A Physical Rehabilitation Model for Disabled, Elderly and Injured in Emergency Situations (earthquake)

Objective and Children, elderly and people with disabilities are mainly affected by damages in any accident or natural disasters. The people with disabilities are neglected in every phase of crisis management evidently. This negligence is more significant in emergencies, specially the need for rehabilitation of these people during 72 hours after earthquake.


In this paper, theoretical principals are present following studying the relevant library sources. Then, questionnaires based on experts’ point of views analyzed; a basic and practical model for rehabilitation of people with disabilities, elderly and injured in emergency after earthquake, based on discussed issues, was proposed. 


According to the analyzed questionnaires, the most important findings are as follow: traffic collisions are main cause of disabilities, physical disability is a basis for rehabilitation management model, positioning, new methods of warning and communication, mobile local rehabilitation teams leading by Physical medicine and rehabilitation specialists, the necessity of presence of the rehabilitation team during 72 hours after earthquake, training the first responders focused on preventing disabilities in earthquake injured.    


 The main result of this paper is presenting a comprehensive and practical model which involves necessary actions during different phases of crisis management especially in emergencies in order to reduce the injuries to people with disabilities and injured in earthquake.