Disaster coordination and management: summary and action plans.

INTRODUCTION: Disaster is a collective responsibility requiring coordinated response from all parts of society. This theme focused on coordination and management issues in a diverse range of scenarios. METHODS: Details of the methods used are provided in the preceding paper. The chairs moderated all presentations and produced a summary that was presented to an assembly of all of the delegates. Although the main points developed in Themes 1 and 4 were different from each other (as reported in the Results section), their implementation was similar. Therefore, the chairs of both groups presided over one workshop that resulted in the generation of a set of Action Plans that then were reported to the collective group of all delegates. RESULTS: The main points developed during the presentations and discussions included: (1) the need for evidence-based assessments and planning, (2) the need for a shift in focus to health-sector readiness, (3) empowerment of survivors, (4) provision of relief for the caregivers, (5) address the incentives and disincentives to attain readiness, (6) engage in joint preparation, response, and training, (7) focus on prevention and mitigation of the damage from events, and (8) improve media relations. There exists a need for institutionalization of processes for learning from experiences obtained from disasters. DISCUSSION: Action plans presented include: (1) creation of an Information and Data Clearinghouse on Disaster Management, (2) identification of incentives and disincentives for readiness and develop strategies and interventions, and (3) act on lessons learned from evidence-based research and practical experience. CONCLUSIONS: There is an urgent need to proactively establish coordination and management procedures in advance of any crisis. A number of important insights for improvement in coordination and management during disasters emerged.

An Israeli model of a hospital emergency information center.

The Emergency Information Center model developed by the social work department of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center is activated in cases of mass casualties following disasters. It aims to provide reliable information to help the public cope with confusion and uncertainty, and to enable the medical staff to concentrate on treating the casualties. The Information Center is comprised of several interrelated units within the hospital, and maintains contact with a range of community organizations. The article describes the structure and activities of the various units, and discusses a number of aspects relevant to personnel organization in crisis intervention.

Chromosomal deletion complexes in mice by radiation of embryonic stem cells.

Chromosomal deletions ("deficiencies') are powerful tools in the genetic analysis of complex genomes. They have been exploited extensively in Drosophila melanogaster, an organism in which deficiencies can be efficiently induced and selected. Spontaneous deletions in humans have facilitated the dissection of phenotypes in contiguous gene syndromes and led to the positional cloning of critical genes. In mice, deletion complexes created by whole animal irradiation experiments have enabled a systematic characterization of functional units along defined chromosomal regions. However, classical mutagenesis in mice is logistically impractical for generating deletion sets on a genome-wide scale. Here, we report a high-throughput method for generating radiation-induced deletion complexes at defined regions in the genome using ES cells. Dozens of deletions of up to several centiMorgans, encompassing a specific locus, can be created in a single experiment and transmitted through the germline. The ability to rapidly create deletion complexes along chromosomes will facilitate systematic functional analyses of the mammalian genome.

Ampicillin-resistant Haemophilus influenzae pneumonia and empyema in an infant.

Ampicillin-resistant Haemophilus influenzae type b was isolated from the pleural fluid of a 15-month-old infant with pneumonia and empyema. The patient was cured when chloramphenicol treatment was substituted for ampicillin.