Abstract
Foot injury was common as a result of the Bangkok flood of 2011. In the future, this type of injury should be prevented to lessen the burden during a disaster. The study was performed to ascertain what type of footwear is appropriate for volunteer rescue workers during a flood. The study was carried out during the flood in November 2011 at Siriraj Hospital. There were 15 volunteers enrolled in the study. None of the volunteers had any foot deformity or injury before the study. Participants were divided into 3 groups of 5 volunteers: group A, the barefoot group; group B, the high top shoe group; and group C, the beach shoe group. All volunteers worked in the areas close to Siriraj Hospital and were followed up after 5 days of rescue work. Prevalence of foot and ankle injuries, satisfaction regarding work conditions and willingness to use the shoes were subjectively evaluated. Wearing of beach shoes during rescue was satisfactory during the early phase of the flood. The age range of volunteers was 20-28. In the group A, most volunteers were barely satisfied with conducting rescue work in water with bare feet, that bare feet were good for working on a wet surface and were 'just satisfied' to not satisfied that bare feet were good for work on dry surfaces. In group B, most of the volunteers had opinions similar to group A with the exception that they felt better while they were working on dry surfaces. In group C, most volunteers were significantly more satisfied under all three conditions. Foot injury occurred in 2 volunteers from group A. Beach shoes offer adequate foot protection during flood rescue.
Highlights
During the catastrophic flood in Bangkok in 2011, foot and ankle injuries were among the more common musculoskeletal injuries seen in emergency clinics
The aim of this study was to compare the usefulness of beach shoes in the protection of foot and ankle injuries during working in the flood
The study sample consisted of 15 volunteers who worked as flood rescuer in Corresponding Author: Saranatra Waikakul, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine Siriraj Hospital, Mahidol University, Bangkok, Thailand Email: saranatra.wai@mahidol.ac.th the area around Siriraj Hospital and Aroon Ummarind Junction in November 2011
Summary
During the catastrophic flood in Bangkok in 2011, foot and ankle injuries were among the more common musculoskeletal injuries seen in emergency clinics. In the early days of the flood, when the water level was rising rapidly and strong currents were present, most flood victims were evacuated quite rapidly from their homes These people and the volunteers who were involved in the disaster have to move as fast in floodwaters as possible to save lives and property. Most walked or ran in the water on their bare feet as they felt that they could move more freely with no shoes It is common practice for the people in Thailand to walk and run on bare feet during work in the water such as farming and fishing; doing so during a natural flood disaster may render volunteer rescue workers prone to injury[1]. Foot injury was common as a result of the Bangkok flood of 2011. Conclusion: Beach shoes offer adequate foot protection during flood rescue
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