Critical care transport and management in Earthquake catastrophes: Lessons from Japan
Earthquake catastrophes: Lessons from Japan
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.54205/ccc.v34.275373Keywords:
Earthquake, Critical care, Transport, CatastrophesAbstract
Japan's experience with large-scale earthquakes has led to the development of a highly structured and adaptable disaster response system. This review highlights key lessons in critical care transport and disaster management from historical events such as the Hanshin-Awaji Earthquake (1995), and the East Japan Triple Disaster (2011). The "Point-Line-Plane" framework categorizes disasters by their geographical scale and helps guide tailored medical strategies. Critical care and emergency physicians must navigate the challenges posed by each disaster type, including triage, evacuation logistics, and continuity of care for vulnerable populations. The importance of Disaster Medical Assistance Teams (DMATs), staging care units, air transport, and chronic care networks in disaster response is highlighted. Previous experiences also emphasize proactive planning, multidisciplinary coordination, and robust healthcare infrastructure for better outcomes.
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