title: Health System Response and Adaptation to the Largest Sandstorm in the Middle East.
abstract: The State of Qatar experienced a sandstorm on the night of April 1, 2015, lasting approximately 12 hours, with winds of more than 100 km/h and average particulate matter of approximately 10 μm in diameter. The emergency department (ED) of the main tertiary hospital in Qatar managed 62% of the total emergency calls and those of higher triage order. The peak load of patients during the event manifested approximately 6 hours after the onset. The Major Emergency Command Centre of the hospital ensured the department was maximally organized in terms of disaster management, and established protocols were brought into action. Multiple timely meetings were convened in efforts to effectively execute plans that included rapid emergency medical services handover time, resourcing staff, maximizing bed space, preventing dust entry in the ED, bypassing certain administrative processes, canceling day-surgeries that did not affect inpatient morbidity, and procuring additional respiratory equipment. Patients arrived mainly with exacerbations of asthma and respiratory distress, ophthalmic emergencies, and vehicular trauma; surprisingly, the incidence of pedestrian injuries did not vary. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:227-238).
authors.affiliation: Hamad Medical Corporation,Doha,Qatar.
authors.forename: Furqan B
authors.initials: FB
authors.lastname: Irfan
authors.affiliation: Hamad Medical Corporation,Doha,Qatar.
authors.forename: Sameer A
authors.initials: SA
authors.lastname: Pathan
authors.affiliation: Hamad Medical Corporation,Doha,Qatar.
authors.forename: Zain A
authors.initials: ZA
authors.lastname: Bhutta
authors.affiliation: Hamad Medical Corporation,Doha,Qatar.
authors.forename: Mohamed E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Abbasy
authors.affiliation: Hamad Medical Corporation,Doha,Qatar.
authors.forename: Amr
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Elmoheen
authors.affiliation: Hamad Medical Corporation,Doha,Qatar.
authors.forename: Abdallah M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Elsaeidy
authors.affiliation: Hamad Medical Corporation,Doha,Qatar.
authors.forename: Tooba
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Tariq
authors.affiliation: Hamad Medical Corporation,Doha,Qatar.
authors.forename: Charles D
authors.initials: CD
authors.lastname: Hugelmeyer
authors.affiliation: Hamad Medical Corporation,Doha,Qatar.
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Dardouri
authors.affiliation: Hamad Medical Corporation,Doha,Qatar.
authors.forename: Noor Bibi Khial
authors.initials: NBK
authors.lastname: Bad Shah
authors.affiliation: Hamad Medical Corporation,Doha,Qatar.
authors.forename: Colene Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Daniel
authors.affiliation: Hamad Medical Corporation,Doha,Qatar.
authors.forename: Ashwin D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Silva
authors.affiliation: Hamad Medical Corporation,Doha,Qatar.
authors.forename: Kaleelullah S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Farook
authors.affiliation: Hamad Medical Corporation,Doha,Qatar.
authors.forename: Yogdutt
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Hamad Medical Corporation,Doha,Qatar.
authors.forename: Stephen H
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D003695:Delivery of Health Care / Q000379:methods*; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000592:standards*; D004190:Disasters / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods* / Q000639:trends; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D011780:Qatar; D055872:Surge Capacity; D014919:Wind
keywords: Qatar; disaster management; emergency; respiratory; sandstorm