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HKJC DPRI E-NEWSLETTER (ISSUE 1) |
The Birth of the Hong Kong Jockey Club Disaster Preparedness and Response Institute (HKJC DPRI) Launching Ceremony Housed in and led by the Hong Kong Academy of Medicine, HKJC DPRI aims to establish Hong Kong as a regional and international leader in disaster preparedness and response training, and to promote local community resilience. A five-year programme will be executed to build the disaster preparedness and response capacity of healthcare professional, NGOs and general members of the community. A platform will also be developed for ongoing professional discussion, networking, policy development and accreditation in Hong Kong around disaster management issues. |
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How is HKJC DPRI Going to Bring about the Change? |
WHAT DO WE CONCERN |
Another scientific research looking at 215 human stampede events from 1980 to 2007 concluded factors associated with number of human losses3. Events that occurred in developing countries, outdoors, in the context of sports, religious, music and political events, or that had a unidirectional mechanism (versus turbulent) increased the number of deaths. Due to the limitation of the methodology, most of these factors are however not modifiable. Importance of key preparedness measures were discussed but not immediately obvious from the results of the study. Back to Hong Kong, you will be able to meet crowd control officers from Civil Aid Service and first aiders from Auxiliary Medical Services, Hong Kong St. John Ambulance or Hong Kong Red Cross, all the way down from Tsim Sha Tsui to Causeway Bay until you reach Central in the New Year’s Eve. These are the preparedness measures as a direct result from the Lan Kwai Fong incident. They are the key to protect lives of citizens. The recent Shanghai incident, which occurred 22 years after the 1993 Lan Kwai Fong incident, reminds us that lessons on disaster preparedness have to be continuously captured, and regularly reviewed and adjusted to apply in future major events given this ever-changing crowd gathering behavior and pattern. After all, new and evolving threats and risks will only surprise those unprepared. |
The seminar aimed to provide practical knowledge and training to Hong Kong healthcare professionals in the public and private outpatient setting, who may become the first responders to potential and suspected Ebola patients not only in Hong Kong, but also in the region and the affected countries. It attracted the participation of more than 150 healthcare practitioners. Professional aid and healthcare practitioners who had responded to the Ebola crisis at the frontline in Liberia, shared in the seminar their knowledge and experience on both the medical and psychosocial interventions. One of the key highlights was how the crisis has often been referred as “a disease of fear”, due to the fear and stigmatization as well as the isolation resulted. Such a fearful atmosphere does no help to the situation at all, when mistrust and conflicts emerge leading many to resist earlier measures to prevent a major outbreak. Psychological support as an integral part of the response plan against the epidemic has been emphasized. Demonstration of PPE and discussion of suitable level of protection among community health workers were another highlight at the seminar. Facilitated by video clips recorded at the HKJC Innovative Learning Centre for Medicine (ILCM)6 and the panel discussion by experts, it was concluded that the most important points included the use of TOCC (Travel history, Occupation, Contact and Clustering) as an early detection tool, the mucosal protection and hand hygiene with the proper use of PPE, and the environmental cleansing. The concluding remarks called participants for their support in this global humanitarian crisis as a responsible global citizen. Despite the risk and danger faced in fighting this highly fatal disease, local communities with the support flew from all over the world continue to work around the clock to save lives and ensure rights and dignity of those who are affected. Every little effort counts and deserves the support by all sectors across the society. |
This year’s Pacific Wave exercise - PacWave15 was held on 2 – 6 February. PacWave15 will simulate Pacific countries receiving tsunami threat messages containing wave amplitude forecasts. Member states or participants, including Hong Kong, may then use the information to assess their national threat and make related response decisions. The Exercise will include multiple scenarios to allow use of a distant or regional event, and will be conducted in real time during the daytime10. During the exercise, the Contingency Plan for Natural Disasters hosted by the Security Bureau will be the basis for the response in Hong Kong11. As one of the deadliest natural disasters in recorded history, the 2004 tsunami claimed more than 220,000 lives in Indonesia (which accounted more than 170,000 alone), Sri Lanka, India, Thailand and Maldives. The unfortunate disaster event highlighted the critical needs to develop public awareness of natural hazards and early warning systems. The 2004 tsunami switched the global focus from disaster response to disaster risk reduction, of which preparedness and community resilience remain key in build up a “prepared” community in managing any disaster event. 5-year-on when the International Federation of Red Cross and Red Crescent Societies (IFRC) published the World Disaster Report 200912- an annual report illustrating the global trend in disaster risks management, the importance of an early warning systems around the world as measures of disaster preparedness was highlighted and discussed in details. Whether it’s in Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Pacific Region or any other parts in the world, one must keep in mind that we are dealing with human lives and our responsibility is high. This would be a continuous process and a lot more needs to be done, but first of all as a responsible community member, let’s start by taking part in building a safer Hong Kong. |
Believing that practice does make perfect, a symposium was organized on 6 December 2014 by Hong Kong Disaster Medicine Association calling upon related government departments and concerned agencies to reflect on how well we have performed, and how could we perform better in future marine disasters. Experienced disaster responders from different units such as Hong Kong Police Force, Fire Services Department, Government Flying Service, Auxiliary Medical Service, etc were invited to share their insights. |
1 Mr. Justice Bokhary: The Lan Kwai Fong Disaster on January 1, 1993: Final Report, 1993 (363.3497 INT)
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CONTACTS Hong Kong Jockey Club Disaster Preparedness and Response Institute Address: Room 901, Hong Kong Academy of Medicine Jockey Club Building, 99 Wong Chuk Hang Road, Aberdeen, Hong Kong Telephone:2871 8507 Fax : 2296 4628 Email:[email protected] |
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