Citation

Oshiro K, Tanioka Y, Schweizer J, Zafren K, Brugger H, Paal P. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2022; 19(3): e1098.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2022, MDPI: Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute)

DOI

10.3390/ijerph19031098

PMID

35162119

Abstract

Throughout history, accidental hypothermia has accompanied natural disasters in cold, temperate, and even subtropical regions. We conducted a non-systematic review of the causes and means of preventing accidental hypothermia after natural disasters caused by avalanches, earthquakes, tsunamis, and floods. Before a disaster occurs, preventive measures are required, such as accurate disaster risk analysis for given areas, hazard mapping and warning, protecting existing structures within hazard zones to the greatest extent possible, building structures outside hazard zones, and organising rapid and effective rescue. After the event, post hoc analyses of failures, and implementation of corrective actions will reduce the risk of accidental hypothermia in future disasters.

Language: en

Keywords

tsunami; prevention; hypothermia; earthquake; accidental; avalanche; flooding; mountain; ocean; rescue