2004 Tsunami: Lessons Learned from a Hospital’s First Disaster Experience
Abstract
Forum papers are thought-provoking opinion pieces or essays founded in fact, sometimes containing speculation, on a civil engineering topic of general interest and relevance to the readership of the journal. The views expressed in this forum article do not necessarily reflect the views of ASCE or the editorial board of the journal.
Get full access to this article
View all available purchase options and get full access to this article.
Data Availability Statement
No data, models, or code were generated or used during the study.
Acknowledgments
We would like to extend a special thanks to David Patterson, an English consultant and teacher at the Office of International Affairs, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University, for his valuable help in editing the English and shaping this manuscript. We confirm that all procedures were performed in accordance with the ethical standards laid down in the Declaration of Helsinki and its later amendments or comparable ethical standards. Informed consent of this brief report is waived. The Human Research Ethics Committee, Faculty of Medicine, Prince of Songkla University provided approval for waiving informed consent (Document No. REC 64-480-1-1).
Author contributions: Dr. Lawtongkum conceptualized and designed the paper, drafted the initial manuscript, and reviewed and revised the manuscript. Dr. Vachvanichsanong conceptualized and designed the paper, drafted the initial manuscript, and reviewed and revised the manuscript. Dr. Arpornthip reviewed and revised the manuscript. Dr. Thisyakorn conceptualized and designed the paper, drafted the initial manuscript, and reviewed and revised the manuscript. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.
References
An, C. 2021. “Tsunamis and tsunami warning: Recent progress and future prospects.” Sci. China Earth Sci. 64 (2): 191–204. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11430-020-9672-7.
Asian Disaster Preparedness Center. 2006. “The economic impact of the 26 December 2004 Earthquake & Indian Ocean Tsunami in Thailand.” [Internet.] Accessed June 20, 2023. https://reliefweb.int/report/thailand/economic-impact-26-december-2004-earthquake-and-indian-ocean-tsunami-thailand.
Asian Disaster Reduction Center. 2005. “Total disaster risk management—Good practices.” [Internet.] Accessed June 20, 2023. https://www.adrc.asia/publications/TDRM2005/TDRM_Good_Practices/PDF/PDF-2005e/Chapter2_2.2.pdf.
Baker, M. S. 2007. “Creating order from chaos: Part II: Tactical planning for mass casualty and disaster response at definitive care facilities.” Mil. Med. 172 (3): 237–243. https://doi.org/10.7205/MILMED.172.3.237.
Balasubramaniam, S. M., Y. Mohan, and G. Roy. 2012. “Experiences from tsunami relief activity: Implications for medical education.” Can. Med. Educ. J. 3 (2): e138–e140. https://doi.org/10.36834/cmej.36588.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. 2005. “Rapid health response, assessment, and surveillance after a tsunami–Thailand, 2004-2005.” MMWR 54 (3): 61–64.
Chan, E. Y. Y., A. Y. T. Man, and H. C. Y. Lam. 2019. “Scientific evidence on natural disasters and health emergency and disaster risk management in Asian rural-based area.” Br. Med. Bull. 129 (1): 91–105. https://doi.org/10.1093/bmb/ldz002.
Chierakul, W., et al. 2005. “Melioidosis in 6 tsunami survivors in Southern Thailand.” Clin. Infect. Dis. 41 (7): 982–990. https://doi.org/10.1086/432942.
Doung-ngern, P., T. Vatanaprasan, J. Chungpaibulpatana, W. Sitamanoch, T. Netwong, S. Sukhumkumpee, M. O’Reilly, A. Henderson, and C. Jiraphongsa. 2009. “Infections and treatment of wounds in survivors of the 2004 Tsunami in Thailand.” Int. Wound J. 6 (5): 347–354. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1742-481X.2009.00623.x.
Güereña-Burgueño, F., K. Jongsakul, B. L. Smith, M. Ittiverakul, and O. Chiravaratanond. 2006. “Rapid assessment of health needs and medical response after the tsunami in Thailand, 2004-2005.” Supplement, Mil. Med. 171 (S1): 8–11.
Horiike, R., H. Nakai, T. Itatani, F. Shirai, and K. Konishi. 2019. “Using GIS to simulate tsunami evacuation guidance signs for the hearing impaired.” PLoS One 14 (6): e0217512. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0217512.
Isaranuwatchai, W., D. Guerriere, G. J. Andrews, and P. C. Coyte. 2013. “Two years post-tsunami in Thailand: Who still needs assistance?” Int. Health 5 (2): 106–118. https://doi.org/10.1093/inthealth/iht004.
Keim, M. E. 2011. “The public health impact of tsunami disasters.” Am. J. Disaster Med. 6 (6): 341–349. https://doi.org/10.5055/ajdm.2011.0073.
Leiba, A., I. Ashkenasi, G. Nakash, R. Pelts, D. Schwartz, A. Goldberg, B. G. Levi, and Y. Bar-Dayan. 2006. “Response of Thai hospitals to the tsunami disaster.” Supplement, Prehospital Disaster Med. 21 (S1): S32–S37. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X00015855.
Lim, J. H., D. Yoon, G. Jung, W. J. Kim, and H. C. S. Lee. 2005. “Medical needs of tsunami disaster refugee camps.” Int. Fam. Med. 37 (6): 422–428.
Limpakarnjanarat, K., R. Linkins, E. Emerson, W. Aldis, C. Jiraphongsa, and K. Ungchusak. 2007. “Long-term capacity-building in public health emergency preparedness in Thailand–Short report.” Supplement, Asia Pac. J. Public Health 19 (S1): 13–17. https://doi.org/10.1177/101053950701901S03.
Mohamad, N., N. H. A. Bakar, N. A. N. Mohamed, K. A. Baharudin, A. Y. M. Noh, R. Ahmad, and N. H. N. A. Rahman. 2007. “Post-impact disaster surveillance-a medical reconnaissance team at tsunami-struck Sri Lanka.” MJMS 14 (1): 79–83.
Redwood-Campbell, L. J., and L. Riddez. 2006. “Post-tsunami medical care: Health problems encountered in the International Committee of the Red Cross Hospital in Banda Aceh, Indonesia.” Supplement, Prehospital Disaster Med. 21 (S1): S1–S7. https://doi.org/10.1017/S1049023X00015806.
Somboonna, N., A. Wilantho, K. Jankaew, A. Assawamakin, D. Sangsrakru, S. Tangphatsornruang, and S. Tongsima. 2014. “Microbial ecology of Thailand tsunami and non-tsunami affected terrestrials.” PLoS One 9 (4): e94236. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0094236.
Thailand Department of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Office of Disaster Prevention and Mitigation, Phuket Province. 2020. “Disaster prevention and mitigation Phuket Province planning.” [Internet.] Accessed June 26, 2023. https://www.disaster.go.th/upload/download/file_attach/5fad0888620bf.pdf.
The Royal College of Pediatricians of Thailand and the Pediatric Society of Thailand. 2020. “Children in disasters.” [Internet.] Accessed June 26, 2023. https://www.thaipediatrics.org/?p=885.
Varley, E., W. Isaranuwatchai, and P. C. Coyte. 2012. “Ocean waves and roadside spirits: Thai health service providers’ post-tsunami psychosocial health.” Disasters 36 (4): 656–675. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1467-7717.2012.01274.x.
Wattanawaitunechai, C., S. J. Peacock, and P. Jitpratoom. 2005. “Tsunami in Thailand–disaster management in a district hospital.” N. Engl. J. Med. 352 (10): 962–964. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMp058040.
Yamamoto, H., Y. Kimura, K. Uchida, T. Nishimura, and Y. Mizobata. 2023. “Demand–supply balance of disaster medical care in Osaka City based on damage estimation for a Nankai Trough megathrust earthquake: A geographic information system-based analysis.” Acute Med. Surg. 10 (1): e825. https://doi.org/10.1002/ams2.825.
Yonekura, T., S. Ueno, and T. Iwanaka. 2013. “Care of children in a natural disaster: Lessons learned from the Great East Japan earthquake and tsunami.” Pediatr. Surg. Int. 29 (10): 1047–1051. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00383-013-3405-6.
Information & Authors
Information
Published In
Copyright
© 2023 American Society of Civil Engineers.
History
Received: Feb 23, 2023
Accepted: Oct 6, 2023
Published online: Dec 30, 2023
Published in print: May 1, 2024
Discussion open until: May 30, 2024
Authors
Metrics & Citations
Metrics
Citations
Download citation
If you have the appropriate software installed, you can download article citation data to the citation manager of your choice. Simply select your manager software from the list below and click Download.