Preparing for the Possibility of a Natural Disaster
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The Israeli “Magen David Adom” (MDA) and The Red Cross are sponsoring a Special Joint Conference this week with the aim of preparing medical staff in the handling of victims of a natural disaster.
Many countries have recently faced damaging natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis, floods, etc. In response to this global problem the Israel Magen David Adom will conduct a special conference this week, in cooperation with the International Committee of the Red Cross. The aim of the conference is to help prepare Israeli doctors and nurses to better cope with the difficulties which arise when dealing with such disasters.
The MDA, whose forces have provided assistance to the Red Cross in various countries around the world in recent years, recognizes the importance and significance of the Red Cross’s knowledge and experience in the management, treatment and rescue of casualties from large magnitude natural disasters.
To maintain the readiness of Israel’s first responders in case of earthquake, flood and other life threatening events, the MDA will conduct a first time Israeli special conference on the subject of how to manage a response in disasters that require surgical procedures. The conditions under discussion will involve situations with limited means available, for example, response under field conditions with no electricity, running water, sanitary sterile conditions, and limited advanced medical equipment. The conference is being held between February 11th and 13th at the Leonardo Privilege Hotel located in the Dead Sea.
Attending the conference will be 25 senior doctors and nurses from hospitals around the country who will learn how to cope with difficult situations involving limited means, and the need to be able to conduct surgical procedures.
Magen David Adom, Israel’s Red Cross representative, is preparing itself to handle massive disastrous events and therefore organized the course for Israel’s senior health system personnel. The belief is that they will be able to learn from the knowledge the Red Cross has gained from their involvement in international community work. This accumulated knowledge is essential for saving lives by reducing the number of casualties that is expected in such events.
The guest of honor at the conference will be Dr. Harald Veen, chief surgeon of the International Committee of the Red Cross in Geneva. The Doctor is an intentional specialist with vast international experience in the treatment of injured people at disasters situations such as, war, earthquake, flood, and others.
Illustration Pictures with courtesy of IDF’s spokesman unit
