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Political / Institutional Organisation
In the case of Pakistan and other earthquake plagued lands, the establishment of a dedicated institution or organisation, whether governmental or semi-governmental, with the responsibility of planning, implementing and fulfilling the technical needs of an effective earthquake preparedness and response programme is indispensable.Furthermore,a central node to which all intelligence and information can flow, staffed with planning and response experts who can collate and discern voluminous information feed to drive a rapid and effective response is essential. Hence it is vital to establish an Earthquake Risk & Disaster Management Authority (ERDMA). This will have the combined responsibility of reducing risks and managing an effective and rapid response.
Gaming
The above-mentioned authority must game through scenarios constantly, based on what are to be the most likely scenarios to unfold. This will, when followed through with exercises, help identify inadequacies in preparation and response capabilities. Through this process, practical understanding is gained of what must be procured in terms of equipment, machinery and modes of transport.
Mass education
The vast majority of the victims of the October 8th earthquake were simple people who hadn't received more than a primary education, if that.They had received no education at all regarding earthquake hazards. Awareness of some basic concepts has been demonstrated to save lives and reduce injuries. For example, it is well known by those who live in earthquake-plagued regions that initial jolts are followed shortly by intense aftershocks. Hence people must not enter partially damaged buildings immediately to retrieve valuables, check their properties, etc. Shutting off gas supply, fastening moveable and heavy objects in homes such as cupboards and decorative pieces, not running through the shaking house but taking refuge in secure areas such as corners and doorway arches, are all basic concepts taught in schools and to adults in regions of frequent earthquake activity. If the government of Pakistan can insure that children growing up in the Swat valley in NWFP can compose grammatically sound English paragraphs, then it can with certainty educate the masses about reducing earthquake damage and injury risks.
Mass medical training/ familiarity
Many of the injured in the Pakistan earthquake contracted gangrene, and as a result had limbs amputated. In numerous cases, gangrene was caused by rubbing mud into severe lacerations. This was based on the incorrect view that the earth possessed medicinal properties.
Schoolteachers and students in California are trained to compress lacerations to stem the loss of blood.They are taught to keep open airways, to treat wounds with isopropyl or iodine, and other basic medical skills that can significantly reduce the numbers of preventable deaths and compound injuries that would otherwise arise through negligence and ignorance.
Teaching these invaluable skills to schoolteachers, community leaders, heads of households and older children is imperative. Following an earthquake of this magnitude, when communities are potentially isolated from each other with no expectation of outside medical help for days, the community must be able to respond to such emergencies as best it can.This capability can be enhanced immensely through basic medical education and training.
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