Disaster services training at CIU
Cyprus International University (CIU) Vocational School of Health Sciences, First Aid and Emergency Aid Program provided training on Health Services and Medical Search and Rescue Coordination at times of disasters to the TRNC rescue team who had taken part in the search and rescue efforts at Adıyaman Isias Hotel that was hit in the Kahramanmara earthquake.
CIU Health Sciences Vocational School Director Prof. Dr. Salih Angın reminded that disasters are events that cause physical, economic and social losses for the whole or certain segments of the society, and stop or interrupt normal life and human activities; in cases where public facilities are limited and a large number of citizens are affected in earthquakes or similar disasters, health services are very important and added having a plan and acting in coordination during such times
is of utter importance.
Pointing out that health services will not be able to reach everyone fully and equally in cases where this coordination is not provided, Angın said, “In addition, search and rescue techniques in international standards should be planned for the rescue of the injured who remained under the rubble or those who were lost in the destruction. These plans are necessary for the safe recovery of the injured as well as preventing further injuries from occuring.”
In order to be ready for a disaster that may occur in the country, CIU First Aid and Emergency Aid Program and the Nursing Program educators, in coordination with the Cyprus Turkish Nurses and Midwives Association, offered training on 'Health Services in Disasters'. and ‘Medical Search/ Rescue Coordination’ to 16 nurses and 1 paramedic who were among those who went to the February 6th earthquake zone from the TRNC. In the training, information was provided about the TRNC Disaster Profile, pre-disaster preparedness plans, interventions during disasters and post-disaster rehabilitation studies.
CIU School of Health Sciences Department of Nursing faculty members Prof. Dr. Hatice Sütçü and Assist. Prof. Dr. Nurcan Bilgiç, Health Sciences Vocational School First Aid and Emergency Aid Program Instructor Kadir Çekiç and trainers from the National Medical Rescue Team from Turkey conducted the training sessions, and Angın added that advanced infusion practices and Basic Life Support were also included in the training held at the Emergency Hospital; a Search and Rescue exercise was practiced as well.