64 - Disaster Education and Research

Abstract

Disaster education and research are essential components of disaster preparation and management. Quality disaster research informs educational efforts and imparts wisdom in the disaster response, i.e., through learning from the prior experiences of others. Disaster research is not limited to the field of medicine; it includes topics such as engineering, ethics, sociology, and psychology, and medical disaster responders should be aware of these efforts. Varying forms of disaster education can be targeted to specific audiences, including the media, the general public, including children, and to disaster responders, both medical and nonmedical. The results of educational efforts inform cycles of effectiveness confirmation and future research questions. Together, the goal is prevention of disasters and mitigation of disaster effects, including improved responder safety, better patient outcomes, and damage mitigation. Advances in research techniques and education technology can drive disaster education and research. The use of remote meeting and learning technology, social media, ubiquitous smartphone and tablet accessibility, and high-fidelity simulation are transforming both disaster research and education.