[The Resources and Management Necessary for the Activities of a Disaster Medical Assistance Team].

Abstract

It may not be common for laboratory tests to be employed immediately after a disaster in front-line healthcare settings. However, this is not because laboratory tests are not needed in post-disaster healthcare settings, but because the implementation of triage, which prioritizes the saving of lives, is the initial aim of a Disaster Medical Assistance Team (DMAT). Disaster response ability has been reported to be exerted according to the level of experience. After the Great East Japan earthquake, by the cooperation of related societies and organizations, diagnostic reagents and instruments were supplied to 3 core university hospitals in the affected areas, contributing to building a system whereby necessary medical items could be obtained in three affected Prefectures of the Tohoku region. We should always remember that front-line medical care activities in affected areas are possible due to the backup provided by logistic support teams. The more the system for DMAT is improved, the more effective the support system will be after the super-acute phase of a disaster. [Review].