title: Flood disaster in the Czech Republic in July, 1997--operations of the emergency medical service.
abstract: This report is a review of the response and the activities of the Emergency Medical Services during a huge flood that devastated one-third of the territory of the Czech Republic in July 1997. The Emergency Medical Services personnel extracted by helicopter a great number of citizens who were trapped in their flats and homes. For diabetics and cardiacs who were isolated from the surface transport, the EMS personnel supplied necessary medication, and transported patients to hemodialysis. The cooperation between non-medical emergency services and the district crisis staff of the Integrated Rescue System, varied in different districts. However, in most flooded districts, the cooperation was satisfactory. In addition, a large number of volunteers helped in the first days of the flood. Unfortunately, 49 people died because of the flood. Nevertheless, since the EMS was able to manage the extraordinary needs, the number of emergencies and hospitalizations was low.
authors.affiliation: Department for Emergency and Disaster Medicine, Institute for Post-Graduate Medical Education, Prague, Czech Republic.
authors.forename: J R
authors.initials: JR
authors.lastname: Pokorny
mesh_terms: D018153:Czech Republic; D004190:Disasters; D004632:Emergency Medical Services; D006801:Humans