Abstract
Background This study aimed to investigate medical records using traditional Korean medicine (TKM) in Sewol Ferry disaster in 2014 and further explore the possible role of traditional medicine in disaster situation. Methods After Sewol Ferry accident, 3 on-site tents for TKM assistance by the Association of Korean Medicine (AKOM) in Jindo area were installed. The AKOM mobilized volunteer TKM doctors and assistants and dispatched each on-site tent in three shifts within 24 hours. Anyone could use on-site tent without restriction and TKM treatments including herb medicine were administered individually. Results The total of 1,860 patients were treated during the periods except for medical assistance on the barge. Most patients were diagnosed in musculoskeletal diseases (66.4%) and respiratory diseases (7.4%) and circulatory diseases (8.4%) followed. The most frequently used herbal medicines were Shuanghe decoction (80 days), Su He Xiang Wan (288 pills), and Wuji powder (73 days). Conclusions TKM in medical assistance can be helpful to rescue worker or group life people in open shelter when national disasters occur. Therefore, it is important to construct a rapid respond system using TKM resources based on experience.
Highlights
This study aimed to investigate medical records using traditional Korean medicine (TKM) in Sewol Ferry disaster in 2014 and further explore the possible role of traditional medicine in disaster situation
There was no specific guideline for treatment and doctor decided to treatment method, Table 1: Operational results of medical assistance provided using traditional Korean medicine following the Sewol Ferry disaster
The major symptoms that were treated at the conventional medicine on-site tents were the musculoskeletal system (54.8%), followed by the digestive system (6.9%) and the respiratory system (6.1%) [4], whereas the major symptoms treated at the Korean medical on-site tents were the musculoskeletal system (61.1%), followed by the digestive system (8.7%)
Summary
This study aimed to investigate medical records using traditional Korean medicine (TKM) in Sewol Ferry disaster in 2014 and further explore the possible role of traditional medicine in disaster situation. After Sewol Ferry accident, 3 onsite tents for TKM assistance by the Association of Korean Medicine (AKOM) in Jindo area were installed. The AKOM mobilized volunteer TKM doctors and assistants and dispatched each on-site tent in three shifts within 24 hours. Anyone could use on-site tent without restriction and TKM treatments including herb medicine were administered individually. TKM in medical assistance can be helpful to rescue worker or group life people in open shelter when national disasters occur. A disaster is a social emergency that occurs when damage to the lives and possessions of people in a nation outweighs the capacity of the society to absorb the damage [1]. Groups of people who are evacuated from an emergency area into an open shelter with poor
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