Our Trial of Disaster Victim Identification Training in Chiba, Japan

Abstract

Introduction:

Internationally, Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) activities are conducted under the International Criminal Police Organization system for handling a large number of bodies during disasters. However, the police have taken the initiative and commissioned clinicians and dentists to estimate the cause of death and identify the deceased, under a unique system in Japan. In this presentation, we examine the problems in the current DVI activities in Japan through DVI training.

Method:

We held DVI training sessions three times in preparation for the occurrence of a large-scale disaster in Chiba Prefecture with Chiba Prefectural Police, Chiba Medical Association, Chiba Dental Association, local government staff in Chiba, and forensic staff in other institutions. We conducted desktop trainings using paper dolls, under a simulation of an aircraft disaster, and a natural disaster such as flooding and landslides caused by typhoon damage in the third session. After the training, participants reflected on their activities through a questionnaire.

Results:

In accordance with the conventional method, the police officers numbered the bodies, photographed and checked their personal belongings, followed by the estimation of the cause of death with a doctor, the preparation of documents. Subsequently, dentists collected postmortem findings and matched with antemortem data. On the other hand, police officers and local government staff interviewed the bereaved family members under simulations. In the post-survey, participants were generally satisfied with the training, but some said that it was difficult to understand the activities of other professions.

Conclusion:

In Japan, where there are no DVI teams, this training was a good opportunity for all the job categories involved in DVI activities to meet each other. While the activities conducted by each profession helped to improve skills, the collaboration among professions was poor. We would like to improve the quality of DVI activities by introducing a team system for collaboration among multiple professions.