Changes to the Korean Disaster Medical Assistance System After Numerous Multi-casualty Incidents in 2014 and 2015
Authors
Myeong-Il Cha ; Minhong Choa ; Seunghwan Kim ; Jinseong Cho ; Dai Hai Choi ; Minsu Cho ; Won Kim ; Chu Hyun Kim ; Daehyun Kang ; Yun Jung Heo ; Jung Eon Kim ; Han Deok Yoon ; Soon Joo Wang
Citation
DISASTER MEDICINE AND PUBLIC HEALTH PREPAREDNESS, Vol.11(5) : 526-530, 2017-10
Civil Defense / methods ; Civil Defense / trends* ; Disaster Planning / methods* ; Disaster Planning / trends ; Emergency Medical Services / legislation & jurisprudence ; Emergency Medical Services / methods* ; Emergency Medical Services / trends ; Humans ; Mass Casualty Incidents / legislation & jurisprudence ; Mass Casualty Incidents / prevention & control* ; Republic of Korea ; Teaching
Keywords
disasters ; mass casualty incidents ; medical assistance
Abstract
Objective: A number of multiple-casualty incidents during 2014 and 2015 brought changes to Korea's disaster medical assistance system. We report these changes here.
Methods: Reports about these incidents, revisions to laws, and the government's revised medical disaster response guidelines were reviewed.
Results: The number of DMAT (Disaster Medical Assistance Team) staff members was reduced to 4 from 8, and the mobilization method changed. An emergency response manual was created that contains the main content of the DMAT, and there is now a DMAT training program to educate staff. The government created and launched a national 24-hour Disaster Emergency Medical Service Situation Room, and instead of the traditional wireless communications, mobile instant smart phone messaging has been added as a new means of communication. The number of disaster base hospitals has also been doubled.
Conclusion: Although there are still limitations that need to be remedied, the changes to the current emergency medical assistance system are expected to improve the system's response capacity.