Earthquake Disaster Medical Support management
Written by Anam Hussain
Definition
An earthquake is natural tectonic disaster characterised by the movement (shaking) of the earth’s surface, resulting from the sudden release or energy in the Earth’s lithosphere. Energy irradiates in the form of seismic waves; longitudinal (P) or transverse (S)- in all directions. When these waves reach the Earth’s surface, an earthquake is felt. The phases of earthquakes include: foreshock, shock and after shock
The main damaging factor of earthquakes is overpressure, however secondary DFs may also be present. These include: biological, thermal, radiological, toxic/chemical and psychological. Consequently, the main injuries sustained by casualties is trauma due to destructed infrastructure and the AOD is classified as a mechanical AOD (unless secondary DFs are present and a secondary AOD is present). As a result, the AOD overall has 4 zones which are related to the destruction and shape of circle.
- Zone of complete destruction
- On or close to epicentre
- Everything is ruined, no roads, no shelter, no solid ground
- Elevated risks of aftershock or secondary earthquake
- Zone of severe destructions
- Sustained damage is beyond repair
- This zone has the greatest number of medical losses, usually
- Zone of moderate destructions
- Damages could be repaired
- Roads might be preserved
- Zone of light destructions
- Only cracks on building observed