EuSEM - Disaster Medicine
Section Meeting – Munich, 15th September 2008
The first meeting of the Disaster Medicine Section was held in Munich on 15th September 2008. The minutes can be viewed here and a list of participants can be viewed here.
Background
After the tragedy of September 11, 2001, much wider interest in Disaster Medicine arose than expected and specific response, as well as preparedness, prevention, rehabilitation and mitigation of natural and manmade disasters, became of common interest to most of Emergency Physicians. The 1998 “Manifesto of EuSEM” had already made reference to Disaster Medicine:
In the case of a major incident, a natural disaster or other special circumstances, specialists in Emergency Medicine would normally lead the organisation of medical care. It is thus essential that members of the specialty participate in disaster planning at local, regional, national and international levels. However, the difference between Emergency Medicine in normal circumstances and emergency medicine in special circumstances (Disaster Medicine) is more than just a matter of degree. A disaster is a situation with an imbalance between the immediate need for medical care and the resources available which is not the case in normal emergency medicine. Specific training in preparedness for disasters is thus required for all Emergency Physicians.
Moreover, among other specific objectives of Emergency Medicine a further specific reference is made on Disaster Medicine.
- to study the epidemiology and the management of major incidents and disasters and to participate in the planning for such circumstances.
Based on these premises, we consider the creation of a Disaster Medicine Task Force within EuSEM of the greatest interest to Emergency Physicians, in order to encourage their involvement and to raise the level of education, training and care.
Mission Statement and Goals
To promote and facilitate the dissemination of knowledge and quality care in response to disasters and mass casualty events; to provide a uniform action in different countries, across borders; to sensitise the Emergency Physician for a possible role in preparedness, prevention, mitigation and rehabilitation aspects of disasters; to elaborate common pathways to an adequate level of training and education.
Objectives
In order to further implement the Task Force missions and goals, the main objectives will be the following:
- to become the point of reference for EuSEM members, who would like to cooperate in the development and the dissemination the Section’s mission statement and goals
- to encourage physicians who practice Disaster Medicine to participate in EuSEM activities
- to involve EuSEM members to be part of specific training and educational activities endorsed by EuSEM
- to stimulate and implement the cooperation among EuSEM and international bodies specifically dedicated to Disaster Medicine
- to interact with other scientific societies whose interest is partially or fully dedicated to Disaster Medicine
- to be fully responsible for the academic program of Disaster Medicine inside congresses organised or endorsed by the EuSEM
- to initiate, promote, disseminate educational activities in Disaster Medicine through courses, projects, establishment of clinical guidelines
- to serve as peer reviewers for papers on Disaster Medicine submitted to the EJEM
EuSEM Disaster Medicine Section
1. The EuSEM Disaster Medicine Section will be fully responsible for all activities of the section
2. Members of the section should be physicians who are involved in Disaster Medicine and whose mission is devoted to preparedness, response and education
3. Members should be members of EuSEM
4. The EuSEM Disaster Medicine Section will become active following its creation on approval of the EuSEM Council, hopefully by September 2007
The following EuSEM members comprise the EuSEM Disaster Medicine Section:
- Prof Francesco Della Corte
EM Disaster Medicine - Course Director
Chair, Department of Anestesia, Critical Care and Emergency Critical Care
Università del Piemonte Orientale, Viale Mazzini 18, 28100 Novara, Italy
- Prof Herman Delooz
EM Disaster Medicine - Executive Committee Member
Professor of Emergency and Disaster Medicine - Free University of Brussels
- Dr Ulkumen Rodoplu
EuSEM Vice-President
- Prof Juliusz Jakubaszko
President of the Polish Society for Emergency and Disaster Medicine
- Dr Raed Arafat
President of the Romanian Society for Emergency and Disaster Medicine
- Dr Anders Rüter
KMC, Linkoping, Sweden
- Dr Pinchas Halper
Tel Aviv, Israel
Anyone who is willing to apply for the section is kindly requested to send a message to
Prof Francesco Della Corte by email here or here.
LINKS:
Hospital Disaster Preparedness
www.riceland.it
European Master in Disaster medicine
www.dismedmaster.com