Acute Respiratory Care and Wound Care of Tsunami Patients: What Should the Nurses Do?

Abstract

The earthquake and tsunami on December 26, 2004 killed more than 270,000 people in the 11 countries, injured 500,000 people, and affected approximately 5 million people in the world. The hardest hit was observed in Aceh province, Indonesia that killed approximately 128,000 people, which is about a quarter of the total population and many people were injured or lost their homes [1]. The 2004 Indian Ocean Tsunami also caused extensive damage to five hospitals in Banda Aceh, 122 hospitals and public health centers in few districts. Health providers and clinical networks beyond the hospitals were left in disarray. Communication and transportation system was disrupted and record of most of the nursing staff was lost. The lack of a medical disaster plan, supply of stockpiles and deployment of personnel were painfully evident in the immediate aftermath of the tsunami [2].