Disaster response system

What is a disaster?

An accident where lots of patients and large-scale property damage occur.

The Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety defines “disaster” as something that damages or can damage the lives, bodies, and property of people and the nation.

Classification Definition
Natural disaster Disaster caused by natural phenomena including storms, floods, heavy rain, heavy wind, wind waves, tsunamis, heavy snow, lightning strikes, drought, earthquakes, yellow dust, outbreak of tidal currents, tides, volcanic activity, etc.
Social disaster Damage of a size prescribed by presidential decree or larger caused by fire, collision, explosion, traffic accidents (including air and marine accidents), chemical accidents, environmental pollution accidents, etc., paralysis of national infrastructure including energy, communications, traffic, financing, medical, and waterworks, and damage from the spread of infectious under the “Infectious Disease Control and Prevention Act” or infectious diseases in domestic animals under the “Act on the Prevention of Contagious Animal Disease.”

Disaster-related terms

  • Disaster : Refers to the disasters under Article 3 (1) and (2) of the “Framework Act on the Management of Disasters and Safety.”
  • Accidents with heavy casualties : Refers to accidents where heavy casualties occurred simultaneously or that are apprehended to cause heavy casualties and need separate medical measures to provide emergency medical treatment.
  • Disaster, etc. : Accidents with heavy casualties not declared a disaster.
  • Disaster emergency medical services situation room : Refers to a situation room established and operated by and within the NEMC under Article 25 of the Emergency Medical Service Act to manage and provide duties related to emergency medical services during a disaster, etc.
  • Disaster medical assistance team (DMAT) : A medical team organized in advance or afterward to provide medical support in case of disaster, etc. “Local DMAT” refers to a DMAT organized at a specific regional level, and “Central DMAT” refers to a DMAT organized at the national level.
  • Prompt response team : Refers to an organization constructed and operated by the head of a public health center for prompt field medical response in case of disaster, etc.
  • Disaster base hospital : Refers to institutions prescribed by the Minister of Health and Welfare which can dispatch disaster medical support teams to the scene of a disaster and are equipped with reserve sickbeds, professional personnel, disaster medical support supplies, etc. to be able to accommodate a large number of patients.
  • Chief of disaster medical services : Refers to a person at a disaster base hospital who is in full charge of duties related to local disaster medical services within the hospital.
  • Field emergency medical office : Refers to a medical office established at the disaster scene to manage, conduct, adjust, and control the emergency medicine resources dispatched to the disaster scene and classify, treat, and transport patients.
  • Mobile first aid set : Refers to vehicles arranged at disaster base hospitals to transport tents, equipment, medical equipment, medical consumables, etc. needed for installing field emergency medical offices.
  • Disaster medical service hotline : Refers to mutual contact information of affiliated organizations across the nation for the prompt spread of information and communication in case of a disaster.