Insects, viruses could hold key for better human teamwork in disasters
In a new and novel study, scientists are looking to nature -- specifically, to ants, bees and viruses -- for ways to improve human collaboration during disaster relief efforts. At the center of the scientists' sights are a sub-group of their own species -- specifically, civil engineers, who historically have had a limited role in such efforts, especially those involving critical physical...Tsunami Unplugged: Natural Disasters Favor the Under-privileged
One cannot miss the wake of destruction caused by the Indian Ocean tsunami, the Katrina hurricane catastrophe and the Pakistan earthquake in late 2005. The tsunami was responsible for the annihilation of 300,000 lives with more than 100,000 still missing.// When the early images of tsunami arrived, it appeared as if the tourists were tsunami’s hot favorites. Upon intent observation, it da...Indian Railways Cannot Deal With Major Disasters
A report by the Comptroller and Auditor General criticized the medical system in the Indian Railways and said that it is ill-equipped to carry out medical relief //services in the event of any disaster or accident. The report was complied after auditing important installations of the railways associated with medical care. Titled "Performance Appraisal of Medical and Health Services in...US Emergency Rooms ill prepared for Disasters
A new report has revealed that U.S. emergency medical care is stretched to its limit and ill prepared to handle disasters. The need of the hour is to expand capacity//, address special needs of children and improve coordination before and after patients arrive. A series of three reports from the National Academies of Sciences' Institute of Medicine (IOM) have pointed out that overcrowde...