Lechat M F
Catholic University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
Public Health Rev. 1993;21(3-4):243-53.
Natural disasters such as floods, earthquakes, and cyclones are responsible each year for a large number of deaths and injuries. Over recent years, the emphasis in disaster management has shifted from post-disaster improvisation to pre-disaster planning. There is a strong feeling that one should be able to prevent or mitigate the human consequences through improved preparedness. The decade 1990-99 has been proclaimed by the United Nations the International Decade for Natural Disaster Reduction (IDNDR). Epidemiology is proving an essential tool to study the health effects of disasters and to suggest appropriate control measures at each of the phases of the disaster process, from prevention to long-term rehabilitation. Case-studies have shown that rescue by the disaster-struck community is the most effective way to reduce the death toll due to earthquakes. Disaster preparedness should be part and parcel of primary health care in disaster-prone areas. Appropriate information to evaluate needs should be preferred to precipitate relief. Epidemiological surveillance should replace indiscriminate vaccination. In the long term, disaster preparedness can provide a stimulus for setting up more efficient health services.
洪水、地震和飓风等自然灾害每年都会导致大量人员伤亡。近年来，灾害管理的重点已从灾后临时应对转向灾前规划。人们强烈认为，应通过加强准备工作来预防或减轻灾害对人类造成的影响。联合国宣布1990年至1999年为国际减少自然灾害十年（减灾十年）。事实证明，流行病学是研究灾害对健康的影响以及在灾害过程的每个阶段（从预防到长期恢复）提出适当控制措施的重要工具。案例研究表明，受灾社区的自救是减少地震死亡人数的最有效方法。在易受灾地区，备灾应成为初级卫生保健的重要组成部分。应优先提供评估需求的适当信息，而不是仓促救援。流行病学监测应取代不加区别的疫苗接种。从长远来看，备灾可以促进建立更高效的卫生服务。
