title: Disaster response in an earthquake zone.
abstract: The recent earthquake in Christchurch, New Zealand posed several challenges to emergency service personnel charged with rescuing civilians trapped in collapsed buildings and to medical teams, who were required to treat patients in emergency departments and makeshift treatment centres. This article reports on how good disaster responses ensure that survivors can receive the care they need, quickly and efficiently.
authors.affiliation: Canterbury District Health Board, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Brian
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Dolan
mesh_terms: D004189:Disaster Planning; D055866:Earthquakes; D004631:Emergency Medical Service Communication Systems; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D009520:New Zealand