The role of performing life support courses in rural areas in improving pre-hospital physiologic conditions of patients with penetrating injuries.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of animal model based medical training courses for village healthcare workers on prehospital physiologic condition and prognosis of patients with penetrating injuries.

Study Design: Experimental study.

Place And Duration Of Study: This study was carried out in Mehran city and its neighbouring rural districts in western part of Iran from 2002 to 2004.

Survey of Bam earthquake survivors' opinions on medical and health systems services.

Introduction: On 26 December 2003, a catastrophic earthquake measuring 6.6 on the Richter scale devastated large areas of the city of Bam in southeastern Iran. More than 40,000 people died, tens of thousands were injured, and almost 20,000 homes were destroyed.

International medical response to a natural disaster: lessons learned from the Bam earthquake experience.

An earthquake measuring 6.5 on the Richter scale devastated Bam, Iran on the morning of 26 December 2003. Due to the great health demands and collapse of health facilities, international aid could have been a great resource in the area.