J Korean Soc Emerg Med.  2000 Sep;11(3):362-371.

Subacute-Stage Organized Medical Support Services in a Disaster Area: Anaysis of medical support in the '99 Taiwan earthquake

• Song HG
• Kang BS
• Song K
• Jeong YK

Abstract

BACKGROUND: There was a powerful earthquaken(Richter Scale 7.6) in Tiawan, on Sep. 21, 1999. we supported the organized medical services in that area during 5 days.
METHODS
We made the protocol and analyzed the results prospecitively.
RESULTS
We took care of a total of 708 patients from sep. 23 to sep. 27. Traumatized patients related to the earthquake were 245(34.6%), and most of them had minor injuries. Two hundred thirty-nine(239, 33.8%) patients visited us for medical disease related to living in a group. There were 29(4.1%) patients who complained of neuropsychiatric problems due to the post-earthquake stress. Because the condition of the patients was so bad, 18(2.5%) were transferred to receive more medical services.
CONCLUSION
In disaster area, organized medical services have two different roles, especially in the subacute stage. One is responsibility for real emergency medical care, and the other is medical care of non-emergency patients.

MeSH Terms

Disasters*
Earthquakes*
Emergencies
Humans
Taiwan*