Disaster & Emergency Medicine Project

Community Services

The Project has been established with the ultimate aim of assisting with meeting the needs of the local Community in the event of a Disaster. All training and program development has focussed on improving accessibility of services, the skills of service personnel and the service networking. This has one major purpose - to improve the survival of Disaster victims and assist in the recovery process after a Disaster.

The Disaster and Emergency Medicine Project has been shown to be viable in that trials of the networking system have already been successful. However, in reality this could be said to be only a theoretical response and the Project needs to be tested in a real Disaster.

The Project has been shown to be effective in the recent "Black Tuesday" (January, 21st 1997) fires of the Dandenong Ranges, Melbourne Victoria Australia.

The Project was activated by Displan early in the afternoon. General Practitioners and nurses involved in the Project provided onsite medical services to four (4) evacuation sites within one hour of the request from Displan. The Project staff also coordinated the evacuation, temporary care and the accommodation of thirty-four (34) special accommodation clients and their staff. The Project model was shown to be accepted by Displan personnel and liaised well with all Emergency Services involved. See "In the line of fire", Australian Doctor articles.

The Project will continue to provide a committed service to the Local Community and as the Project model is disseminated throughout Australia, all Australians will reap the benefit.

Key Benefits

Increased Community and Emergency Service cohesiveness.

Government resources enhanced and Government money saved.

Mortality and morbidity reduced.

Send mail to john_drinkwater@onaustralia.com.au with questions or comments about this web site.
Copyright © 1997 Disaster & Emergency Medicine Project
Last modified: April 12, 1997