Assessing the Current State of USA-Based Disaster Medicine Fellowships.

Objectives: This study aimed to understand the current landscape of USA-based disaster medicine (DM) programs through the lens of alumni and program directors (PDs). The data obtained from this study will provide valuable information to future learners as they ponder careers in disaster medicine and allow PDs to refine curricular offerings.

Methods: Two separate surveys were sent to USA-based DM program directors and alumni.

Analysis of Disparities in the Initial Health Care Response to the February 2023 Earthquakes in Turkey and Syria.

Objectives: This study analyzes disparities in initial health care responses in Turkey and Syria following the 2023 earthquakes.

Methods: Using Humanitarian Data Exchange, Crude Mortality Rates (CMR) and injury rates in both countries were calculated, and temporal trends of death tolls and injuries in the first month post- catastrophe were compared. World Health Organization (WHO) Flash Appeal estimated funding requirements, and ratios of humanitarian aid personnel in Urban Search and Rescue (USAR) teams per population from ReliefWeb and MAPACTION data were used to gauge disparities.

Pediatric disaster preparedness curriculum across emergency medicine residencies.

Objective: To assess pediatric disaster medicine (PDM) instruction in emergency medicine (EM) residency programs and to identify barriers to integrating these skills into EM training.

Methods: National survey study of United States EM Residency Program Directors (PDs) and Assistant PDs during the 2021-2022 academic year.

Results: Of the 186 EM residency programs identified, a total of 24 responses were recorded with a response rate of 12.

Syndromic Surveillance Implementation During Disaster Events.

Introduction: Disease surveillance is an integral part of public health. These systems monitor disease trends and detect outbreaks, whereas they should be evaluated for efficacy. The United States Centres for Disease Control and Prevention publish Guidelines for Evaluating Surveillance Systems to encourage efficient and effective use of public health surveillance that are accepted worldwide.

Combating the Opioid Crisis and Its National Security Threat Through CReDO: A Multidisciplinary Solution With Disaster Medicine Implications.

For the first time in history, the United States surpassed 100 000 overdose-related deaths in a 12-month period, driven by synthetic opioids such as fentanyl. Also, for the first time, potential chemical weapons are readily available on the streets and the dark web. Opioids represent a rare trifecta, used for licit pain management, as an illicit drug of abuse, and with potential use as a weapon of terror.

Factors associated with international humanitarian aid appeal for disasters from 1995 to 2015: A retrospective database study.

Introduction: International humanitarian aid during disasters should be needs-based and coordinated in response to appeals from affected governments. We identify disaster and population factors associated with international aid appeal during disasters and hence guide preparation by international humanitarian aid providers.

Methods: In this retrospective database analysis, we searched the Emergency Events Database for all disasters from 1995 to 2015.

Threat awareness training for non-governmental organizations deploying humanitarian aid workers into conflict environments.

Introduction: The current war in Ukraine and the subsequent deployment of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) from around the world has highlighted the many potential dangers faced by humanitarian aid workers operating in conflict zones. Humanitarian aid workers may face both direct and indirect threats and aggression while on deployment, and given the rising number of global conflicts, the authors postulate a need to incorporate threat awareness training as part of pre-deployment training.

Methods: A list of the top 22 rated NGOs providing international aid was obtained from CharityWatch.

Variance Analysis of Expatriate Pre-Hospital Provider Training in Bahrain.

Introduction: The absence of local Emergency Medical Services (EMS) educational programs in Bahrain has given rise to an EMS workforce comprised predominantly of expatriate personnel with varying educational backgrounds that require further training before being licensed as EMS providers in Bahrain.

Methods: A qualitative variance analysis was performed comparing desired core competencies for EMS practice in neighbouring Saudi Arabia, used as a comparator for Bahrain, with core competencies extracted from national curricula of the major countries from which expatriate providers originate.

Results: Major core competencies not covered by the expatriate providers' curricula were identified as follows: working in an autonomous environment, requiring different critical thinking and decision-making skills, assessment and treatment during transportation, disaster response, EMS knowledge base, and coping with the different stressors of the prehospital environment.

Developing Telemedicine Curriculum Competencies for Graduate Medical Education: Outcomes of a Modified Delphi Process.

Purpose: Telemedical applications have only recently begun to coalesce into the field of telemedicine due to varying definitions of telemedicine and issues around reimbursement. This process has been accelerated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the ensuing expansion of telemedicine delivery. This article demonstrates the development of a set of proposed competencies for a telemedicine curriculum in graduate medical education.

The Psychosocial Impact of Compounding Humanitarian Crises Caused by War and COVID-19 Informing Future Disaster Response.

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has caused the greatest global loss of life and economic impact due to a respiratory virus since the 1918 influenza pandemic. While health care systems around the world faced the enormous challenges of managing COVID-19 patients, health care workers in the Republic of Armenia were further tasked with caring for the surge of casualties from a concurrent, large-scale war. These compounding events put a much greater strain on the health care system, creating a complex humanitarian crisis that resulted in significant psychosocial consequences for health care workers in Armenia.

Trend Analysis on Road Traffic Collision Occurrence in Nigeria.

Objectives: Road traffic collisions (RTC) result in a significant number of preventable deaths worldwide. In 2010, the United Nations General Assembly launched, "The Decade of Action for Road Safety (2011-2020)" with the stated goal to "reduce road traffic deaths and injuries by 50% by 2020." This study aims to analyze trends in RTC numbers and subsequent deaths with respect to road safety laws in Nigeria and to suggest suitable interventions.

The Holy Month of Ramadan: Mass-Gathering Event Implications for Hospital Surge Capacity Planning in Saudi Arabia.

Objectives: The goal of this study is to determine the impact of the Holy Month of Ramadan on emergency department (ED) and hospital resource utilization in comparison to the time of Hajj and the rest of the year, so as to better define future resource needs of hospitals responding to events of this large size and duration.

Methods: A retrospective chart review was conducted of electronic medical records, ED visits, and hospital admissions during Ramadan, Hajj, and all other months over a three-year period on the Hijra calendar (1438-1440) or Gregorian (2016-2019). Primary outcomes were the change in the number of ED visits, hospital admissions, and intensive care unit (ICU) admissions during Ramadan in comparison to during Hajj and other months.

Preparing for the Second Surge: Preventing Posttraumatic Stress Disorder and Building Resilience for Health Care Workers in the Face of COVID-19.

The global community needs to be aware of the potential psychosocial consequences that may be experienced by health care workers who are actively managing patients with coronavirus disease (COVID-19). These health care workers are at increased risk for experiencing mood and trauma-related disorders, including posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). In this concept article, strategies are recommended for individual health care workers and hospital leadership to aid in mitigating the risk of PTSD, as well as to build resilience in light of a potential second surge of COVID-19.

Practical Solutions for Healthcare Worker Protection During the COVID-19 Pandemic Response in the Ambulatory, Emergency, and Inpatient Settings.

Objective: Protecting healthcare workers is an essential component of a successful response to the COVID-19 pandemic. The resource intensive nature of infectious disease protection, budgetary constraints, and global shortages of personal protective equipment (PPE) make this a daunting task. Practical, easily implemented strategies for healthcare workers (HCW) protection are needed.

Counter-Terrorism Medicine: Creating a Medical Initiative Mandated by Escalating Asymmetric Attacks.

Introduction: Since 2001, a burgeoning interest by health care professionals in the growing asymmetrical terrorist threat and its impact on health care preparation and response has seen significantly increased academic output around this nebulous subject. Despite this, there has failed to be a consolidation of this sub-specialty.

Discussion: This editorial argues for the consolidation of the body of experience gathered since 2001 into an initiative called Counter-Terrorism Medicine (CTM).

A dignitary medicine curriculum developed using a modified Delphi methodology.

Background: Dignitary medicine is an emerging field of training that involves the specialized care of diplomats, heads of state, and other high-ranking officials. In an effort to provide guidance on training in this nascent field, we convened a panel of experts in dignitary medicine and using the Delphi methodology, created a consensus curriculum for training in dignitary medicine.

Methods: A three-round Delphi consensus process was performed with 42 experts in the field of dignitary medicine.

Dignitary Medicine: A Novel Area of Medical Training.

Dignitary medicine (DM) involves the provision of healthcare to government leaders and other high-profile individuals collectively referred to as "dignitaries." Due to the unique circumstances around their lifestyle, dignitaries often receive suboptimal healthcare. We define the requisite skills needed to practice DM based on the available literature and provide a framework for training providers in these skills.

Use of Dimensional Analysis in the X-, Y-, and Z-Axis to Predict Occurrence of Injury in Human Stampede.

Background: Human stampedes (HS) may result in mass casualty incidents (MCI) that arise due to complex interactions between individuals, collective crowd, and space, which have yet to be described from a physics perspective. HS events were analyzed using basic physics principles to better understand the dynamic kinetic variables that give rise to HS.

Methods: A literature review was performed of medical and nonmedical sourced databases, Library of Congress databases, and online sources for the term human stampedes resulting in 25,123 references.

Earthquake-Related Orthopedic Injuries in Adult Population: A Systematic Review.

Unlabelled: Introduction Earthquake-related trauma results in crush injuries and bony- and soft-tissue trauma. There are no systematic reviews analyzing the typical injury patterns and treatments in "Mega-Mass-Casualty" earthquakes. The characterization of an injury pattern specific to disaster type, be it natural or manmade, is imperative to build an effective disaster preparedness and response system.