Objective To assess the public health impacts and needs, to evaluate performance of anti-epidemic efforts after Lushan earthquake, so as to provide references for the following anti-epidemic work. Methods The day of earthquake occurrence was defined as the first day after earthquake. We collected information and data from the Sichuan Provincial Government, the National Health and Family Planning Commission of the People’s Republic of China, the Health Department of Sichuan Province, Sichuan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, and then we compared the situations of disaster, public health situation in stricken area, emergency response, resource deployment, etc. with those after Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, in order to evaluate the performance of anti-epidemic response during 2 weeks, clarify current situations and demands, and offer a proposal for the following work. Results Emergency response was conducted immediately after the Lushan earthquake. The counterpart assistance was considered at the beginning of team arrangement. The number and professional structure of rescue participants were planned according to needs. Three days after earthquake, anti-epidemic staff arrived at every involved county, town, and even village, which achieved full rescue coverage of locations and interventions. The staff helped reconstruct disease surveillance system, protect source of drinking water and environmental hygiene, etc., which resulted in progressive achievement. Two weeks after the earthquake there were no outbreak and public health emergency event occurred in stricken area. Conclusion The anti-epidemic efforts after Lushan earthquake inherit and develop the lessons from Wenchuan earthquake in 2008. Emergency response is timely, orderly, scientific, and moderate. The deployment of policies, technologies and resources has already been completed during two weeks. Anti-epidemic efforts achieve preliminary results. We suggest that key issues of further work should be the implementation of policies, strategies and measures, such as health management at relocation sites, water and food hygiene, disease monitoring, prevention and control, mass vaccination, scientific disinfection, and health education, in order to improve long-efficacy mechanism and stabilize work performance.
Objective To analyze the injury and dysfunction as well as the rehabilitation status and demand of the 188 Lushan earthquake victims admitted in the hospitals in and around Ya’an city and the West China Hospital of Sichuan University, so as to provide guidance for the rehabilitation work in the following step. Methods By means of the onsite investigation, 122 victims admitted in 7 hospitals and 2 health centers in and around Ya’an city within 1-9 days after Lushan earthquake, and the other 66 victims treated in the West China Hospital of Sichuan University were analyzed. Results The injury categorization of 122 victims in and around Ya’an city was as follows: upper limb fracture (12.30%), lower limb fracture (42.62%), spine fracture (16.39%) (25.00% treated by surgery and 75.00% treated by non-surgery treatment), pelvis fracture (1.64%), rib fracture (4.10%), traumatic brain injury (10.66%), soft tissue contusion (8.20%), and others (4.09%). At the corresponding period, the injury categorization of 66 victims treated in the department of rehabilitation medicine of the West China Hospital of Sichuan University was as follows: fracture (77.27%), traumatic brain injury (3.03%), spinal cord injury (4.55%), and others, including soft tissue injury (15.15%). At the ninth day after earthquake, among the 122 victims in and around Ya’an city, 8 victims (6.56%) were recovered with self-care ability of daily living, and the other 144 (93.44%) still needed the strengthened rehabilitation treatment. At the corresponding period, among the 66 victims in the West China Hospital, one victim (1.52%) was recovered with self-care ability of daily living, and the other 65 (98.48%) still needed the strengthened rehabilitation treatment. Conclusion Early rehabilitation treatment such as active exercise, elevating injured limbs, physical therapy, turning over at regular time, and psychological intervention can help the earthquake victims to return to home and society early.
ObjectiveTo investigate the effects of early rehabilitation on function of patients undergoing complex lower limb amputation caused by injuring in "4·20" Lushan earthquake. MethodsFrom April 20th to June 30th, 2013, we carried out comprehensive rehabilitation intervention for two patients who had undergone complex lower limb amputation, including physical treatment, exercise treatment, psychological treatment, wound dressing, rehabilitation program, and multiple rehabilitation nursing care. ResultsThrough early comprehensive rehabilitation intervention, patients' pain was relieved, and their muscle strength, activities of daily living (ADL), and balance function had been improved greatly, achieving the goal of installing artificial limb. ConclusionEarly rehabilitation intervention treatment is effective in relieving pain in patients undergoing lower extremities amputation, and improving their muscle strength, ability of ADL and balance function, which can make the patients return to society much better and faster.
Objective To analyze the injury characteristics and the rescue process and effects for the victims admitted in the People’s Hospital of Deyang City within 72 hours after 4.20 Lushan earthquake, so as to discuss how to adopt the emergency program to implement medical rescue in disaster relief. Methods The data of 25 earthquake victims admitted in the hospital from April 20th, 2013 to April 23rd, 2013 were collected to analyze age, gender, the location of injury, the injury state of different age groups, and the prognosis of victims. Results Of the 25 victims with injuries on 32 locations of the body, there were 20 cases with single injury (80.00%) and 5 cases with multiple injuries (20.00%). Most injuries were seen in four limbs, body surface, and soft tissues; and the incidence of single injury was higher than that of multiple injuries. The number of admitted victims was largest on the first day after earthquake, accounted for 92.00%, which was obviously higher than that on the second and the third day. Victims aged from 19 to 45 years old was more than those of other ages. Conclusion Scientific emergency command system and disaster emergency program play an high-efficient command role in disaster rescue, shorten the time of emergency response, and improve the ability of disaster rescue. The comprehensive capacity of self-rescue and well-organized rescue for disaster area can be improved as long as the general public is educated about the disaster emergency program and cooperative emergency drill. Meanwhile, smooth traffic and unobstructed communication are guaranteed in the disaster area, and the cooperative efforts are made by all walks of society.
Objective To collect and analyze the data of emergency medicine supply for both Wenchuan and Lushan earthquakes victims in the West China Hospital, so as to provide evidence for scientifically and efficiently carrying out the logistical support for emergency rescue medicines supply, and improving the coping capacity for those similar public health emergencies. Methods Both medicine constituent ratios and DDDs were taken as evaluation indexes, and the data were input by Excel software. Then the following items were analyzed: the use and cost of emergency medicine for victims admitted in the hospital from one day to one month after earthquake, as well as, the acceptance, allocation and use of the donation medicines for both Wenchuan and Lusan earthquakes. Results During the first month after Lushan earthquake, the victims used 26 categories of medicines involving 455 drug specifications in the West China Hospital. The dosage and DDDs of therapeutic medicines were higher than those of ancillary medicines. The donation medicines for Lushan earthquake accepted by the hospital were in 8 categories involving 16 drug specifications, and they were all used to rescue the victims in the hospital. Based on the hospital emergency medicine supply system oriented by the information of victim’s medicine use, the drug specification and total drug cost of the donation medicines for Lushan earthquake decreased by 90.91% and 89.73%, respectively, indicating a more accurate and efficient system compared with those for Wenchuan earthquake. Conclusion The implementation of the hospital emergency medicine supply system oriented by the information of victim’s medicine use is helpful to improve the time efficiency and pertinence of earthquake medical rescue.
Objective To collect the clinical data of victims with traumatic brain injury (TBI) admitted in the West China Hospital of Sichuan University within 2 weeks after 4.20 Lushan earthquake, and to analyze their clinical characteristics and effects of early rehabilitation, so as to provide baseline data for rescue TBI victims with the early rehabilitation treatment during emergency medical rescue. Methods A total of 392 victims admitted in the hospital from April 20th, 2013 to May 3rd, 2013 were screened, of which the TBI victims were clinically assessed and treated with early rehabilitation. Then both the activities of daily living (ADL) and the Rancho Los Amigos Cognitive Recovery Scale (RLA) before and after the treatment were analyzed. The data were input by Excel software, and the statistical analysis was performed by SPSS softwar. Results A total of 51 TBI victims at age from 3 to 84 years old were included finally. The categories of TBI included subarachnoid hemorrhage (41.2%), intracranial hematoma (33.3%) and mixed type (33.3%), and the severity were associated with the type of TBI. The GCS score of cerebral concussion was higher (13.25 ± 0.62) while that of the diffuse axonal injury was lower (4.50 ± 0.71). All victims (100%) had limited ADL, 74.51% had cognitive dysfunction, 9.80% had speech disorder, and 7.84% had dysphagia. After the early rehabilitation treatment, both ADL (before treatment: 34.82 ± 58.29, after treatment: 69.63 ± 22.29) and RLA (pre-treatment: 4.16 ± 1.24, treatment: 7.20 ± 1.69) were obviously higher than those before treatment, with statistical differences (both P lt;0.05). Conclusion The TBI categories of Lushan earthquake victims are various and mixed, and the severity associated with the type of TBI. All TBI victims are accompanied with more clinical problems and functional limitation. Early rehabilitation treatment is safe and effective to improve ADL and RLA as well.
Objective To explore the allocation of necessary living goods for the emergency medical rescue teams at Lushan earthquake sites. Methods The living goods requirements of 59 emergency medical rescue members at Lushan earthquake sites were investigated using a questionnaire and then analyzed, in order to provide references for the allocation of necessary living goods for emergency medical rescue teams in future. Results The top five necessary living goods for emergency medical rescue members at earthquake sites were food, drinking water, toilet, communication product, and bedclothe. The needs of bath of the members who stayed longer than 3 days were more than the members who stayed shorter than 3 days, with a significant difference (Plt;0.05). The number of living goods that female members need were more than that male members need (Plt;0.05). Conclusion For improving the work efficiency and quality of life, emergency medical rescue teams need to be equipped with not only the medical supplies, but also necessary living goods based on the length of stay and the ratio between male and female.
Objective To report the anti-epidemic work for counterpart-supporting Longmen township, the epicenter of Lushan earthquake, by Mianyang health and epidemic prevention team from the first day to one month after the earthquake. Methods a) The following information was collected: work information and report forms of each counterpart-support small group, government work information, work information statistics and historical epidemic materials of health center, and epidemic prevention materials of Beichuan county. b) The epidemic prevention work of Longmen township from the first day to one month after earthquake were documentarily described, the expert group review was adopted to assess the disaster situation, epidemic situation and health needs, and the visual observation and trace method were used to monitor the vectors. Results a) The first team arrived in Ya’an city at the 19th hour after earthquake. The members of the team put forward the “City in-charge-of Township counterpart-support anti-epidemic mode” and they were approved to counterpart-support Longmen township. b) The second team involving 48 members assigned to the first team within 5 days after earthquake. Totally 224 local people were called up and they carried out a comprehensive work based on the “City in-charge-of Township counterpart-support anti-epidemic mode”: water quality and disease surveillance, disinfection and disinsectization at key sites, epidemic prevention in settlements, large-scale health education, and psychological intervention. c) As of 1 month after the earthquake, Mianyang health and epidemic prevention team had dispatched 20 vehicles and 122 people participated in the post-disaster epidemic prevention in Longmen township. The total disinfection area was 1 725 400 square meters, and disinsectization area was 1 162 500 square meters; 184 water samples were collected, and 7 717 family-times’ drinking water disinfection were guided; nearly 28 000 publicity materials were distributed; 8 636 people were visited and received for diagnosis; 33 cases with watery diarrhea and 16 cases with fever were found; 117 people were trained about mental health service, 3 mental health service stations were set up, and 1 152 people were helped with special population mental health services. Conclusion a) Mianyang health and epidemic prevention team combined the special requirements of epidemic prevention in Lushan earthquake with the proficient experiences and work modes of epidemic prevention in Mianyang as the extremely-severe stricken area in Wenchuan earthquake, and put forward the “City in-charge-of Township counterpart-support mode” which is implemented and verified in the anti-epidemic practice in epicenter of Longmen Township. b) Compared with the epidemic prevention in Qushan township of Beichuan county which is the epicenter of both Lushan and Wenchuan earthquakes: the following 8 aspects (including the “City in-charge-of Township counterpart-support” formed, the first anti-epidemic team entered into the village, full coverage of anti-epidemic team entered into the village, direct reporting network recovered, settlement’s regular administration started, water supply guaranteed, drinking water monitoring initiated, emergency vaccination initiated) were performed earlier in Lushan than Wenchuan, with 42 days, 2 days, 32 days, 4 days, 10 days, 6 days, 7 days, and 19 days in advance, respectively. c) The overall performance is faster, more reasonable, and more efficient. It can provide first-hand information for globally similar earthquake’s epidemic prevention, and also the decision-making and reference for both post-disaster reconstruction and construction of regional state disaster emergency response system.
Objective To analyze the costs of emergency medication in the West China Hospital within one month after Lushan earthquake based on actual medication of the victims’ disease spectrum. Methods We collected emergency medication data as evaluation index in the West China Hospital within one month after Lushan earthquake, including daily cost, cumulative percentage of pharmacology category, average cost per day/person, average cost per day/person when DUI=1, difference between average cost per day /person, and average cost per day/person when DUI=1, etc. Then, we input data using Excel software for statistically analyzing the costs of emergency medication within one month after the earthquake. Results During one month after the earthquake, the costs changed consistently with the number of victims, which implied the change of costs was rational. Injuries were classified into 6 categories and 12 kinds according to ICD-10. The costs of medication accounted for 71% of the total costs. Six kinds of illness accounted for 21%. Medication for injuries was classified into 3 categories and 18 kinds; average cost per day was 186.87 yuan and average cost per person was 1 702.70 yuan. Medication for illness was classified into 5 categories and 28 kinds; average cost per day was 38.96 yuan and average cost per person was 185.13 yuan. The mean value of average cost per day/person of injection was 14.52/5.08 times more than that of non-injection. Meanwhile, the mean value of average cost per day/person of imported medication was 7.10/5.28 times more than that of domestic medication. Conclusion The factors that impact the medication costs include: a) disease burden and traumatic conditions of the sick and wound; b) administration pathway (injection vs. non-injection); c) imported or domestic medication; and d) the rationality of taking DUI as evaluation index. When DUIgt;1, injection through the vein and imported medication take a larger share which increase the costs of medication. Emergency rescue package should mainly prepare for the injury. In order to ensure the timely, safe and effective medication, injection should be given priority to. We also should take into consideration crash-resistance/anti-quake package, reasonable dosage, convenience-to-use of drugs as well as the needs of the illness.
Objective We evaluated effectiveness and performance of medical rescue after Lushan earthquake during 2 weeks, and enriched Wenchuan lessons to provide useful references for emergency medical rescue (EMR) after similar earthquake worldwide. Methods We collected and analyzed official information, public documents, news release, and relevant information from websites, and then we systematically reviewed and descriptively analyzed all included literature of EMR after earthquake (domestic and foreign). Results Learned from Wenchuan earthquake, EMR for Lushan earthquake were characterized as: a) Assess the situations of quake damage and injuries were scientifically assessed; human resources, funds and materials were reasonably distributed; and the EMR relied mainly on regional rescue power of Sichuan province. b) Patients’ with critical injuries were treated using “Four concentration treatment principles”, which resulted in a new medical record of zero death, 14 days after the earthquake. c) The experience of EMR after Lushan earthquake verified, enriched and improved lessons from Wenchuan, Yushu and Yiliang earthquake, which provided first-hand references of evidence-based decision making for earthquake EMR worldwide.