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Risk and Protective Factors that Impact Survival in Emergencies—The Time Has Come for an Upgrade in Preventive Emergency Population Behavior

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Bruria Adini ,
Robert Cohen  and
Yaron Bar-Dayan
Bruria Adini
Affiliation:
Emergency and Disaster Management Division, Ministry of Health, Israel Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel University Center for the Research of Preparedness and Response to Emergency and Disaster Situations, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel
Robert Cohen
Affiliation:
Emergency and Disaster Management Division, Ministry of Health, Israel University Center for the Research of Preparedness and Response to Emergency and Disaster Situations, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel Center for Medical Education, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel
Yaron Bar-Dayan*
Affiliation:
Faculty of Health Sciences, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel University Center for the Research of Preparedness and Response to Emergency and Disaster Situations, Ben Gurion University of the Negev, Beer-Sheva, Israel Meir Medical Center, Israel
*
[email protected]
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Extract

Mapping risk and protective factors that may result in increased chances of survival or a decrease in injuries and fatalities in mass-casualty incidents (MCIs) is an important component in the process of emergency preparedness. While expert risk analyses are based on calculations of probability and damage, public estimates of risks more often are based on qualitative factors. It is important to understand how the public, and not just professional experts, perceive and react to the threat of MCIs whether they stem from natural causes or terrorism. Glenshaw et al provide valuable insight into the impressions and responses of a sample of individuals, both injured and uninjured who were involved in the Oklahoma City bombing. Their analysis helps us better understand what factors influenced the risk of injury to the individuals involved in the event. The main risk factor themes that emerged from the analysis included environmental glass, debris, and entrapment. Protective factors included knowledge of egress routes, shielding behaviors to deflect debris, and survival training. Building design and health status were reported as both risk and protective factors.

Type
Editorial Comments
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 23 , Issue 6 , December 2008 , pp. 507 - 509
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2008

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