title: Learning lessons in emergency management: the 4th International Conference on Healthcare System Preparedness and Response to Emergencies and Disasters.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The International Preparedness & Response to Emergencies & Disasters (IPRED) conferences are conducted bi-annually in order to share insights and lessons learned from diverse crises. The aim of the article is to bring the IPRED conferences into better professional attention and to share the main insights that were presented in IPRED IV, which was held in January 2016.
  
  
  METHODS
  The major lessons learned included:Planning, regional/global collaborationandpublic-private cooperationshould be implemented in developing novel technologies.International humanitarian actionnecessitates coordination between diverse actors concerning all potential threats.Leadership/coordinationand decision-making capacities of emergency response leaders should be enhanced to ensure quality of care.Ethics in disaster management: Triage decisions must not discriminate against terrorists, even when attackers and victims are treated simultaneously.Resilience management: Establishing family and community networks increases resilience of individuals and society.Training programs & exercisesmust be evaluated considering cost-benefits.Human resources: Teams of experts should be transformed into expert teams.Communication: A common disaster-management language needs to be established. Social media is useful due to bi-directional communication.Civil-military cooperationshould be established to facilitate a coordinated response including common terminologies and exercises.Animal sheltering: First responders and pet owners are jeopardized if animals are not included in emergency planning. Re-unification of animals with their owners should be included in response models.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  IPRED conferences provide a platform for sharing insights and lessons learned from diverse emergencies and disasters. The conferences offer a unique opportunity to share knowledge aimed at improving emergency preparedness, networking between various parties, and substantiates the knowledge and experience of all professionals who take part in the proceedings.
authors.affiliation: Emergency and Disaster Management Division, Ministry of Health, Igal Alon 119, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Adini
authors.affiliation: Home Front Command, Ramla, Israel.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Ohana
authors.affiliation: Home Front Command, Ramla, Israel.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Furman
authors.affiliation: Emergency and Disaster Management Division, Ministry of Health, Igal Alon 119, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Ringel
authors.affiliation: Home Front Command, Ramla, Israel.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Golan
authors.affiliation: Home Front Command, Ramla, Israel.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Fleshler
authors.affiliation: Emergency and Disaster Management Division, Ministry of Health, Igal Alon 119, Tel Aviv, Israel.
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Keren
authors.affiliation: Rambam Medical Center, Haifa, Israel.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Reisner
keywords: Animal sheltering; Civil–military cooperation; Disasters; Emergency management; Humanitarian action; Lessons learned; Resilience; Training and exercises