AFAD and UMKE managers and medical specialists who came together at the 'International Istanbul Disaster and Emergency Medicine Symposium', which was organized by Yeditepe University for the second time this year, drew attention to the importance of emergency response and pre-disaster preparation in disaster situations.

ISTANBUL, (DHA) - AFAD and UMKE executives, who came together at the 'International Istanbul Disaster and Emergency Medicine Symposium' organized by Yeditepe University for the second time this year, and specialists in the field of medicine emphasized the importance of emergency response and pre-disaster preparedness in disaster situations.
Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu, Istanbul Provincial Health President, AFAD and UMKE managers and employees, Yeditepe University Rector Prof. Dr. Canan Aykut Bingöl, faculty members and students of the university's Search and Rescue Club participated in the symposium, which was organized to raise awareness about the first aid to be applied in disaster situations with the measures to be taken before and after disasters.

"Everyone Who Touches Human Life is A Hero"

Speaking at the opening, Istanbul Provincial Health Director Prof. Dr. Kemal Memişoğlu pointed out that the measures taken in Turkey have increased since 2002 and said, "All of our friends working in these jobs are actually heroes because this job is based on volunteering and should be done by being loved. Turkey is a country with an earthquake expectation. Everyone has their own responsibilities in this regard. It should be clear how to follow the road in case of disaster. Society should be made aware of this. People should know what to do."

"66% Of Turkey is at Risk of First - and Second-Degree Earthquake"

Providing information about the activities of the National Medical Rescue Team (UMKE), which has been serving since 2004, and the rescue operations it has participated in so far, Dr. Eray Çınar, Head of Disaster and Emergency Response Management Department stated that the most important point of disaster protection is preparation. "The more we prepare, the easier it is to reduce the damage," said Dr. Çınar and added that Turkey is a region with a high disaster rate, and considering the earthquake situation, 66 percent of the country is in danger of first- and second-degree earthquakes.

"The Deficiencies That Emerged in the Marmara Earthquake were Eliminated"

Abdulkadir Tezcan, Head of the AFAD (Disaster and Emergency Management Department) Response Department, said, "There are preparation, risk reduction, response, and recovery processes. Awareness is the most important aspect of risk reduction. We have no escape from disaster. But how prepared we are is evident by these programs. There are disasters such as earthquakes, landslides, floods, and avalanches, but we live in an area most affected by earthquakes. At this point, when we look at our breaking moments, the impact of the 17 August 1999 Marmara Earthquake is great. Over 17,000 people lost their lives and over 43,000 people were injured. Access to the area was difficult. More than 70,000 rescue personnel, 64,000 of whom were soldiers, had served. In this disaster, it was understood that we lacked professional search and rescue personnel. Lack of national coordination. Our plan was not in place at the time of the disaster. All this led us to be more prepared and prepared. When we compared the Marmara Earthquake and the 2011 Van Earthquake, it took 4.5 hours and 30 minutes for one search and rescue to start. Interrupted communication lines returned to normal within 12 hours in one and 2 hours in the other. Apart from this, a more planned path was followed, and the insurance system was put into order."

"We Will Provide Workforce to AFAD and Umke"

Stating that there are approximately 43 clubs for their universities, Rector Prof. Dr. Canan Aykut Bingöl said, "One of the most valuable of these is Yeditepe Natural Disaster Recovery Club (YUDAK). They are actively working every summer in places where drowning is most common, such as Şile and the Black Sea. Over 350 people have been rescued so far. Other than that, they volunteer in AFAD's operations. They took part in the discovery of missing climbers in the Van Earthquake. As a university, we organize certificate programs in this regard. We will be starting our master's degree soon. We will provide a labor force to institutions such as AFAD and UMKE."

Alparslan Erişti, one of the students working at YUDAK, said, "We have received our training from various institutions and have become licensed. I have been working at the club for the past 4 years. We are trying to add something to our new friends. There were fires that we intervened in when we were on watch in the fire brigade."

"Basic Knowledge Saves Lives"

Referring to the importance of first aid knowledge in natural disasters, Yeditepe University Faculty of Medicine Emergency Medicine Department faculty member Dr. Mustafa Ferudun Çelikmen said, "There is a difference between saving people from debris and removing them from debris. You can get a survivor out. But if you cannot administer the appropriate medical care, you lose the patient. Unfortunately, we had examples of this. In particular, academicians should definitely raise awareness among their students about disaster medicine education within medical education. This training should also be given to citizens. For example, in the August 17 earthquake, citizens tried to give juice to those who were removed from the wreckage. This well-intentioned approach could actually be fatal. Because there is an element that is released into the circulation when the potassium cells are broken down, and these juices are very rich in the direction of potassium. Such information should also be known to the public. In such cases, the riskiest way is to drink water. Life can be saved in simpler ways."

"We are Among the First in the World Regarding Rescue and Health Teams"

Stating that they ranked first in the world as rescue and health teams, Istanbul University Cerrahpaşa Medical Faculty Member Prof. Dr. Doğaç Niyazi Özüçelik said, "We are one of the first countries called for help when an international event occurs. For example, AFAD teams went from here to the earthquake that recently happened in Indonesia. We also have preparations in Turkey. The important thing here is to be protected rather than treated. It is necessary to take measures such as buildings with solid floors and reconsideration of the construction. This is not only a job for the government, but also for the citizens themselves to pay attention to. For example, the fact that there are structures in river beds in flood disasters causes this disaster. The most important thing at this point is to be conscious. We live in a country that is likely to encounter a disaster at any time. First of all, we have to be mentally prepared for this situation. We need to know where and how to react. If we are prepared for this first, the next process will be easier."

"Turkey is Doing Better Than Egypt"

Muhammed Elgazzar, a faculty member of Yeditepe University Faculty of Medicine, who started to work in Egypt, has been working as a physician in war zones for years and has been dealing with the health problems of Syrians in Gaziantep on behalf of the World Health Organization for the last 2 years, said, "I have also been in regions where natural disasters have occurred during my previous work in Egypt. I worked as a physician in the great storm and flooding caused by the overflow of the Nile River. Preparedness for response to natural disasters in Turkey is much better than in Egypt. I am pleased to work on this issue in Turkey."