Hostname: page-component-586b7cd67f-rdxmf Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-22T15:33:48.988Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Post-Preparedness Medical Disaster Response in Costa Rica

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Richard A. Bissell ,
Ernesto Pretto ,
Derek C. Angus ,
Bern Shen ,
Victor Ruíz ,
Norma Ceciliano ,
Roberto Sawyers ,
Dawn Shurtleff  and
Joel Abrams
Richard A. Bissell*
Affiliation:
University of Maryland, National Study Center for Trauma and EMS; Department of Emergency Health Services, University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus, and Disaster Reanimatology Study Group, Baltimore, Md.
Ernesto Pretto
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, and International Resuscitation Research Center, Disaster Reanimatology Study Group, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Derek C. Angus
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh, Department of Anesthesiology and Critical Care Medicine, and International Resuscitation Research Center, Disaster Reanimatology Study Group, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Bern Shen
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh, Division of Emergency Medicine and Department of Clinical Epidemiology and Preventive Medicine, and Disaster Reanimatology Study Group, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Victor Ruíz
Affiliation:
Comisión Nacional de Emergencia, San José, Costa Rica, and Calderón Guardia Hospital, Costa Rica
Norma Ceciliano
Affiliation:
Hospital de Niños, San José, Costa Rica, and University of Pittsburgh, International Resuscitation Research Center, Disaster Reanimatology Study Group, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Roberto Sawyers
Affiliation:
Instituto Nacional de Seguro Social, San José and Puerto Limón, Costa Rica
Dawn Shurtleff
Affiliation:
University of Maryland, Baltimore Campus, Department of Emergency Health Services, Baltimore, Md.
Joel Abrams
Affiliation:
University of Pittsburgh, Department of Engineering, Pittsburgh, Pa.
*
National Study Center for Trauma and EMS, 701 West Pratt St.-001, Baltimore, MD 21201-1023USA
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Introduction:

The 1991 earthquake in the Limón area of Costa Rica presented the opportunity to examine the effectiveness of a decade of disaster preparedness.

Hypothesis:

Costa Rica's concentrated work in disaster preparedness would result in significantly better management of the disaster response than was evident in earlier disasters in Guatemala and Nicaragua, where disaster preparedness largely was absent.

Methods:

Structured interviews with disaster responders in and outside of government, and with victims and victims' neighbors. Clinical and epidemiologic data were collected through provider agencies and the coroner's office.

Results:

Medical aspects of the disaster response were effective and well-managed through a network of clinic-based radio communications. Nonmedical aspects showed confusion resulting from: 1) poor government understanding of the roles and responsibilities of the central disaster coordinating agency; and 2) poor extension of disaster preparedness activities to the rural area that was affected by the earthquake.

Conclusion:

To be effective, disaster preparedness activities need to include all levels of government and rural, as well as urban, populations.

Keywords

communicationscoordinationCosta Ricadisaster managementdisaster medical caredisaster preparednessdisaster reliefdisaster responseearthquakeGuatemalainternational responselife-supporting first-aid (LSFA)Nicaraguaplanningruralurban
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 9 , Issue 2 , June 1994 , pp. 96 - 106
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 1994

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1. Quarantelli, EL, Taylor, VA, Tierney, KJ: Delivery of Emergency Medical Services in Disasters. Columbus, Ohio: Ohio State University Disaster Research Center, 1977.Google Scholar
2. Burkle, F, Sanner, PH, Wolcott, BW, (eds): Disaster Medicine. New York: Medical Examination Publishing Co., 1984.Google Scholar
3. Lechat, MF: Disasters and public health. WHO Bulletin 1979;57:3770–3776.Google ScholarPubMed
4. de Ville de Goyet, C: The health impact of earthquakes. Biomedical Research in Latin America. Bethesda: National Institutes of Health; 1980, pp 215–233.Google Scholar
5. Baskett, P, Weller, R, (eds): Medicine for Disasters. U.K.: Butterworth and Co., 1988.Google Scholar
6. Western, KA: The epidemiology of natural and man-made disasters: The present state of the art [dissertation]. London: London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine, University of London, 1972.Google Scholar
7. Pretto, EA, Angus, DC, Abrams, JI, et al. : Prehospital deaths in an earthquake. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine 1994;9:107–117.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
8. Sáenz, R, Bissell, R: Post-disaster malaria in Costa Rica. Prehospital and Disaster Medicine (submitted).Google Scholar
9. Comisión Nacional de Emergencia, 1991.Google Scholar
10. Coultrip, RL: Medical aspects of U.S. disaster relief operations in Nicaragua. Mil Med 1974;139:879–883.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
11. Whittaker, R, Fareed, D, Green, P, et al. : Earthquake disaster in Nicaragua: Reflections on the initial management of massive casualties. J Trauma 1974;14:37–43.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
12. de Ville de Goyet, C, del Cid, E, Romero, A, et al. : Earthquake in Guatemala: Epidemiologic evaluation of the relief effort. Bulletin of the Pan American Health Organization 1976;10:95–109.Google ScholarPubMed
13. Glass, RI, Urrutia, JJ, Sibony, S, et al. : Earthquake injuries related to housing in a Guatemalan village. Science 1977;197:638–643.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
14. Lechat, MF: The epidemiology of disasters. Proc Soc Med 1976;69:421–426.Google ScholarPubMed
15. Noji, EK, Kelen, GD, Armenian, HK, et al. : The 1988 earthquake in Soviet Armenia: A case study. Ann Emerg Med 1990;19:891–897.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16. Seaman, J, Leivesley, C, Hogg, C, (eds): Epidemiology of Natural Disasters. New York: Karger, 1984.Google Scholar
17. Red Cross of Guatemala: Preliminary Evaluation of the Relief Operation Carried Out by the Guatemalan Red Cross During the Earthquake of 4 February 1976. Guatemala City, 1976.Google Scholar