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At present, earthquakes cannot be predicted. Scientific decision-making and rescue after an earthquake are the main means of mitigating the immediate consequences of earthquake disasters. If emergency response level and earthquake-related fatalities can be estimated rapidly and quantitatively, this estimation will provide timely, scientific guidance to government organizations and relevant institutions to make decisions on earthquake relief and resource allocation, thereby reducing potential losses. To achieve this goal, a rapid earthquake fatality estimation method for Mainland China is proposed herein, based on a combination of physical simulations and empirical statistics. The numerical approach was based on the three-dimensional (3-D) curved grid finite difference method (CG-FDM), implemented for graphics processing unit (GPU) architecture, to rapidly simulate the entire physical propagation of the seismic wavefield from the source to the surface for a large-scale natural earthquake over a 3-D undulating terrain. Simulated seismic intensity data were used as an input for the fatality estimation model to estimate the fatality and emergency response level. The estimation model was developed by regression analysis of the data on human loss, intensity distribution, and population exposure from the Mainland China Composite Damaging Earthquake Catalog (MCCDE-CAT). We used the 2021 Ms 6.4 Yangbi earthquake as a study case to provide estimated results within 1 h after the earthquake. The number of fatalities estimated by the model was in the range of 0-10 (five expected fatalities). Therefore, Level IV earthquake emergency response plan should have been activated (the government actually overestimated the damage and activated a Level II emergency response plan). The local government finally reported three deaths during this earthquake, which is consistent with the model predictions. We also conducted a case study on a 2013 Ms7.0 earthquake in the discussion, which further proved the effectiveness of the method. The proposed method will play an important role in post-earthquake emergency response and disaster assessment in Mainland China. It can assist decision-makers to undertake scientifically-based actions to mitigate the consequences of earthquakes and could be used as a reference approach for any country or region.
Subject(s)
Disaster Planning , Disasters , Earthquakes , China/epidemiologyABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: While Asia has the dubious distinction of being the world's most natural disaster-prone area, disaster nursing education and training are sparse in many Asian countries, especially China where this study took place. OBJECTIVE: To explore the earthquake disaster experiences of Chinese nurses and develop a substantive theory of earthquake disaster nursing that will help inform future development of disaster nursing education. DESIGN: A qualitative study employing grounded theory, informed by symbolic interactionism. PARTICIPANTS AND SETTING: Fifteen Chinese registered nurses from five hospitals in Jiangxi Province who undertook relief efforts after the 2008 Wenchuan Earthquake. METHODS: Data were collected in 2012-2013 in digitally-recorded, semi-structured, in-depth interviews and reflective field notes, and analyzed using Glaser's grounded theory method. RESULTS: Participants were unprepared educationally and psychologically for their disaster work. Supporting the emergent theory of "working in that terrible environment", was the core category of "turning into a strong nurse", a process of three stages: "going to the disaster"; "immersing in the disaster"; and "trying to let disaster experiences fade away". The participants found themselves thrust in "terrible" scenes of destruction, experienced personal dangers and ethical dilemmas, and tried the best they could to help survivors, communities and themselves, with limited resources and confronting professional work. CONCLUSIONS: Our rich findings confirm those of other studies in China and elsewhere, that attention must be paid to disaster education and training for nurses, as well as the mental health of nurses who work in disaster areas. Emergent theory helps to inform nurse educators, researchers, leaders and policy makers in China, and elsewhere in developing strategies to better prepare nurses for future disasters, and assist communities to prepare for and recover after earthquake disasters.
Subject(s)
Disasters , Earthquakes , Education, Nursing , Emergency Treatment/nursing , Health Services Needs and Demand/standards , Nurses/psychology , Adult , Attitude of Health Personnel , China , Emergency Treatment/psychology , Female , Grounded Theory , Humans , Male , Mental Health , Qualitative Research , Stress, Psychological/nursing , Stress, Psychological/psychologyABSTRACT
Objective To investigate the acute mountain sickness of servicemen during4.14Yushu earhquake relief work,and analyze the related factors of the sickness at the initial phase of acute plateau exposure.Methods 162 servicemen were sampled randomly and clusteringly from Yushu relief force during.the inidal phase of acute plateau exposure.According to theDiagnosis and treatment principles of the acute mountain sickness,the prevalence of the acute mountain sickness was judged among the servicemen.The scales of general status invested score(GSIS),the self-rating symptom scale(SCL-90)and the life event scale(LES)were used to investigate the related factors of the acute mountain sickness.Results 65.4% of servicemen in earthquake relief work had acute mountain sickness,including mild 17.3%,moderate 31.5%and severe 16.7%.The occurrences of pant,palpitation,dizziness,lips cyanosis and headache,were higher than other symptoms,accounting for 83.6%,79.1%,73.1%,61.2%and 58.2%.The positive significant correlation was found among the symptoms score of acute mountain sickness and age,marriage,trauma history,negative events,and the most genes(somatization,obsession,depression,anxiety,hostility,fear,paranoia,appetite,sleep)and total score of SCL-90(r=0.188～0.619,P<0.01 or 0.05).There was negative significant correlation among the symptoms score and the personality and social support(r=-0.254,P<0.01;r=-0.285,P<0.01).Regression analysis showed that the somatization,personality,marriage,social support and age were more important than other factors.Conclusion Attention should be paid to the acute mountmn sickness in the relief force during the initial phase of acute plateau exposure,and the morbidity rate of acute mountain sickness were correlated with the somatization,personality,marriage,social support and age.
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Objective As members of CNEDERT, we were trusted to take the mission of medical rescue in April of this year in Yushu area of Qinghai province. As soon as we heard of the news of earthquake with shock of 7.1 on Richter scale happened on 14th April 2010, our team of 32 members from the General Hospital of Armed Police Force rapidly rushed to get there at 19 o'clock on 14th April. It is a cold plateau with 4000 meters in average above sea level. Of course, they would face many difficult problems and some of them could not be figured out in advance. It was really a new and big challenge. First of all, we had to bear the very low barometric pressure,threatening lives of team members. In order to fulfill the mission of medical rescue, and to prevent the acute mountain sickness (AMS) ,we monitored the physiological changes of every member. Method A total of 32 members aged from 27 - 42 years old with average age of (33.26 + 12.54) years, 6 male and 6 female, gathered at Peking, 50 meters above sea level, 6 hours ahead of getting to Yushu and received physical examination with measurements of SaO2, HR, Hb and breath holding test. The team worked in Yushu area for 13 days and returned back to Peking on 27th April at 13 o'clock. The measurements of SaO2, HR and He were kept on from 14th April to 4th May, 21 days in total. The occurrence of AMS was surveyed by questionnaire from 18 to 48 hours after arrival,and the AMSA was diagnosed and scored according to the Lake Louise consensus on the definition and quantification of altitude illness. When the score was equal or above 3, it was considered to be AMS. Our work activities included searching the victims under the collapsed building, carrying out treatment and operation as soon as possible in the mobile hospital, doing medical round visiting, public health and disease prevention, work of joint rescue of multiple professions and psychological counseling. Results Of them 26 (81.25%) members suffered from AMS of various severities and few of them had pulmonary edema and hematuria, and those with SaO2 below 60% were sent down to the plain of low level above sea. The average level of SaO2 at Peking was ( 98.21 + 2.63) %, and it suddenly dropped to (66.31 ± 4.24)% on the first day of entering Yushu area, and from the 2nd day on, it gradually increased to (84.80 ± 4.20)% on the 13th day of stay in Yushu. On the 14th day, we returned back to Peking, the average SaO2 gradually went up from ( 85.57 + 2.73) % to (85.70 + 3.11 ) % on the 15th day,(87.93±2.63)% on the 17th day, (92.21 ±3.62)% on the 18th day, and (98.2333 ± 1.78)% On the 21st day (5th May ). At plain the average HR was (78 ± 11 ) beats/min, and it went up abruptly to ( 121 ± 18) beats/min on the first day of arrival to Yushu, and from the 2nd day on, it slowly lowered down to (99± 12) beats/min at the end day of stay in Yushu area. When we got back to Peking, the average HR gradually normalized from (91± 18) beats/min to (77 + 16) beats on the 5th May. The average Hb in Peking was ( 118 ± 32) g/L, and it gradually increased to ( 137 ± 18) g/L on the 5th day and to ( 161 ± 27) g/L on the 11th day after arrival, and it gradually dropped to (127:± 13) g/L on the 17th day and to (120± 13) g/L on the 21st day. Various measures were taken to treat and prevent the AMS with Chinese herbal medicines such as hongjingtian (Rholiola sacra [Prain ex Hamet] Fu), droplet-sized pill of danshen (salva miltiorrhiza Bge), slice of xiyangshen (Panax quinquefolium L)for lozenge which had some effect of minimizing the symptoms of AMS, and with easily digestible diet catered for in less amount of food in each meal and more meals every day, and diet was composed of mainly carbohydrate and vitamins. Large amount of fluid was required at least 4000 - 6000 mL daily guided by the number of urination at least once or twice a day. For the severe case with shortness of breath and sense of oppression over chest, the oxygen inhalation and intravenous glucose saline with small dose of hydrocortisone were given. Conclusions There were great changes in SaO2, HR and Hb of individuals rushed into high altitude area from plain of low level above sea in a short length of time. But those individuals had the capability of adaptation to ameliorate bit by bit those changes day by day until 13 days of stay, the end of stay at high altitude. On that day, the levels of SaO2, HR and He were still far away from normal. And those changes took 6 days to resume the original levels after the members retumed to the plain. Of them, 81.25% (26/32) members suffered from AMS of various severities. Various measures taken to treat and prevent the AMS are very important. In addition, working at high altitude area, the medical equipment and facilities should be miniaturized for easy portability on the rugged and narrow footpath in order to preserve the energy of medical members.
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The development history, the features and laws of guaranteeing medical supplies under emergency situation are introduced briefly. The allocation of resources, the key factors in management and the technique supply are described. By looking at the trend and the future work on how to guarantee medical supplies in the state of emergency, some conclusions can be made: guaranteeing medieal supplies in the state of emergency is a whole new field. Only when the experience is accumulated, and when the eoneepts and techniques from foreign countries are learned, the supplies for clinical and first aid to be delivered safely and in time can be guaranteed. Thus, the number of lives saved will be maximized.
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Objective To analyze and solve problems in spreading out the power supply system in mobile field hospital during the earthquake relief.Methods According to the layout of the mobile field hospital and the need of electrical power,the sketch map of electric circuit was drawn out and spread with load as less as possible.Results Current supply and its safety in mobile field hospital are guaranteed.Conclusion This kind of power supply system meets the requirement of the mobile field hospital in emergent rescue tasks.
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According to the actual situation of taking part in the earthquake relief mission followed by the mobile field hospital,the characteristics of medical support mission and the main problems in the use of medical equipment of the mobile field hospital are summarized.Aimed at the problems,equipments are suggested to be added especially used for surgery,first aid,blood transfusion and some special subjects,and improvement should be made on the equipment of ultrasonic diagnosis,inspection and X-ray examination.Finally,the necessary sorts and quantity of the medical equipments needed in the mission are listed.
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Objective To analyze and solve the difficulties in rapidly expanding the mobile field hospital in earthquake relief mission.Methods Aimed at the difficulties in the speed,advance men were sent out before the expansion.Then the personnel were regrouped in the proceeding of the expansion,and the vehicles entered the district according to the predefined area and order.Results The expanding speed was raised.Conclusion The scheme meets the requirements of the first aid in the mobile field hospital.
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This paper introduces the general structure,main functions and features of telemedicine consultation vehicle,expatiates its important effect of information transmission,video conference,telemedicine consultation in earthquake relief,and analyzes the effect of modernistic equipment in future medical support by combining with actual application.
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Field cabin,a new generation of our military medical support system,was used in the Wenchuan Earthquake relief for the first time. The ordonnance and features of X-ray field cabin were also laid out. In Mianyang city,within 86 days,there were 710 wounded persons were checked up,and the rate of high quality photo was up to 85%. The rational ordonnance,steady performance,easily deployed and withdrawn features of the X-ray field cabin ensure it adapted to long-distance medical support and fulfill its mission effectively. However,some disadvantages of it are also found in the application,and innovating proposal is further introduced.
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Through making a summary of using the portable X-ray machine in the earthquake relief,the equipment of the advantages and disadvantages in the field are analyzed and introduces the problems and solutions in application,and gives some improved suggestions for tripod.
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The actual condition of executing technical security of medical equipment in 5.12 Wenchuan serious earth-quake disaster was summarized, and the occurring problem of emergency technical security of medical equipment are ana-lyzed so as to provide useful reference and countermeasure of affairs.
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Fierce earthquake could result in mass casualties. The patient is sent to the hospital after simple trauma management for further treatment. Emergency response to hospital infection management in station hospital can effectively prevent the occurrence and spreading of infectious diseases.
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Field operation infirmary should conquer many complicated situations, such as overuse of vehicles, too far maneuvering distance, too long maneuvering time, and complicated road state. The author puts forward that in the marching, the division of responsibilities and march discipline should be very strict, and vanguard should be sent before field operation infirmary, which ensure the operation infirmary to reach the destination safely and successfully.
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Wenchuan earthquate brought great misfortune to people,but this disaster has evoken human beings' moral power greatly.Love is the source of moral power,altruism is basic point of moral power and charity is performence of moral power.In this paper,we discuss moral powers' meanings and founctions in three aspects: great devotion of love,altruistic sacrifice and all kinds of charity without the boundary of counties and field.
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This article analyzes the Chinese medicine psychology the principle,elaborated after earthquake disaster,people's main psychological feature,and proposed the Chinese medicine psychology intervention method.
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The module of surgical instruments modularization based on the theory research are applied to the medical rescue of earthquake relief effort by the application of methods on practical demonstration,which solves the defects and inadequacies of the traditional surgical instruments box group field and validates the feasibility of practical application in the combination of modular design of surgical instruments,these can provide practical basis for new modules of field surgical instruments.
