Journal of Korean Medical Science

Korean Acad Medical Sciences (대한의학회)
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Incidence and Mortality Rates of Disasters and Mass Casualty Incidents in Korea: A Population-Based Cross-Sectional Study, 2000-2009

  • Kim, Soo Jin (Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University) ;
  • Kim, Chu Hyun (Department of Emergency Medicine, Inje University, Seoul Paik Hospital) ;
  • Shin, Sang Do (Department of Emergency Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital) ;
  • Lee, Seung Chul (Department of Emergency Medicine, DongGuk University Ilsan Hospital) ;
  • Park, Ju Ok (Seoul National University Hospital Biomedical Research Institute) ;
  • Sung, Joohon (Department of Epidemiology, Graduate School of Public Health, Seoul National University)
  • Published : 2013.05.10
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Abstract

The objective of study was to evaluate the incidence and mortality rates of disasters and mass casualty incidents (MCIs) over the past 10 yr in the administrative system of Korea administrative system and to examine their relationship with population characteristics. This was a population-based cross-sectional study. We calculated the nationwide incidence, as well as the crude mortality and injury incidence rates, of disasters and MCIs. The data were collected from the administrative database of the National Emergency Management Agency (NEMA) and from provincial fire departments from January 2000 to December 2009. A total of 47,169 events were collected from the NEMA administrative database. Of these events, 115 and 3,079 cases were defined as disasters and MCIs that occurred in Korea, respectively. The incidence of technical disasters/MCIs was approximately 12.7 times greater than that of natural disasters/MCIs. Over the past 10 yr, the crude mortality rates for disasters and MCIs were 2.36 deaths per 100,000 persons and 6.78 deaths per 100,000 persons, respectively. The crude injury incidence rates for disasters and MCIs were 25.47 injuries per 100,000 persons and 152 injuries per 100,000 persons, respectively. The incidence and mortality of disasters/MCIs in Korea seem to be low compared to that of trend around the world.

Keywords

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