(A114) Disaster Medical Services System in Hyogo Prefecture from the Lessons of the Great Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake

Abstract

Purpose

To examine how did Hyogo prefecture renovate disaster medical services system from the lessons of the Great Hanshin -Awaji Earthquake.

Method

Countermeasures after the experience of the Earthquake were 1. Establishment of disaster-related medical information network which was introduced to each of various institutions to collect and disseminate medical information at the time of disaster. 2. Designation of sixteen hospitals as Disaster Medical Centers, which were expected to play leading role in disaster management,and to receive many patients at a time of disasters. 3. Construction of Hyogo Emergency Medical Center which was designated as a main Disaster Medical Center to train medical staffs, to operate the Emergency Medical Information Control Center.

Results

We have several training courses for medical staffs. The most important training course is the DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistant Team)training course. DMAT trainigs held at two main Disaster Medical Centers, east National Disaster Medical Center, west Hyogo Emergency Medical Center. More than three hundreds teams have been cultivated now. We experienced five disasters in Hyogo prefecture in these seven years. 2 were natural disasters by the typhoon. 3 were a collision of the ship, the collision of the truck, train derailments each. A big JR train accident occurred in Amagasaki city of Hyogo on April 25,2005. Hyogo Emergency Medical Center worked as the emergency information control center, dispatched doctor attended ambulance, performed on-site triage and first aid, dispatched second team by helicopter, received four severe cases by helicopters, dispatched third team in the evening and provided confined space medicine, and took initiative of surveillance study of the casualties.

Conclusion

Disaster medical services system from the lessons of the Earthqukake functioned at the time of the JR Train accident.