Scientific Journal of Rescue Relief
Volume:7 Issue: 2, 2015

The high number of road accidents and fatalities make it necessary to select and develop relief and rescue road bases more than ever. Several factors are involved in the selection of relief and rescue bases which is not possible to analysis all aspects with traditional methods. Golestan province is located in the northern transit route and welcomes millions of travelers every year due to natural conditions and the characteristics of tourism-pilgrim. Consequently there are many road accidents which serious attention it requires in order to better serve the needs of the injured in hazardous places. In this study, method of hierarchical is used. Firstly, the factors in road traffic accidents are identified; in the following the weight of each factor is determined based on paired comparison method and experts opinions. Finally, data were combined in a GIS and priority plan of available rescue and relief centers. Then site selection of suggested centers of rescue and relief bases was provided. In proximity of cities and villages, the mix of the purpose and use of international road by residents and drivers has been the main cause of accidents. The focus of rescue and relief bases in these areas has not reduced the number of accidents and only accelerates the relief. The main places to establish relief and rescue bases in Tehran-Mashhad international road are between the cities of Minoodasht, Azadshahr, Ramian, Aliabad, Gorgan, Kordkuy and Bandar Gaz. In the meantime, Gorgan-Ali Abad and Gorgan-Kordkuy roads are more dangerous. According to the results, the density of accident-prone areas is between two road rescue and relief bases. It seems that some factors are involved such as population, culture, climate and culture of indigenous people. Therefore, it is recommended that policies should be reviewed in order to reduce road accidents in these areas.

The earthquakes have caused about 126,000 of deaths in the 20th century in Iran. Iran has long been known as one of the most seismically active areas of the world that there is the possibility of destructive earthquake in near future. Despite the importance of this issue, there has been no a comprehensive study to examine past earthquakes experiences.The use of past experiences in major incidents has a positive effect on the public awareness to respond disasters appropriately.This study aims to review lessons learned in health of the last 25 years of earthquakes in Iran. In this literature review, the information in the field of health searched and extracted from the related databases including Pub Med, Scopus, Google Scholar, Magiran and SID, conference papers, WHO reports and published papers in the last 25 years about earthquakes by keywords of Iran, earthquake and lesson learned. A total of 50 articles were reviewed; of these, 36 ones met the inclusion criteria. After studying the selected papers, the results were coded and presented in 10 groups thematically such as structural strengthening (4 articles), relief/ rescue/ housing (6 articles), response coordination (3 articles), efficient communication system (2 articles), sever physical damage (4 articles), preparation of healthcare unit (3 articles), vulnerable groups (4 articles), infectious diseases (3 articles), psychological support (2 articles), and socioeconomic changes (2 articles). The literature review of articles published in the last 25 years about major earthquakes in Iran showed that the evaluation results of the studies can be beneficial in order to prepare and deal more effectively with future earthquakes.

With breakdown of the former structures and the acceleration of urbanization process in recent decades, cities need careful planning in order to provide citizens needs including safety city. Thus, one of the major tasks of planners and urban managers is to determine the proper location for the establishment of fire stations. In this descriptive-analytic study, given that most of the criteria have sub-criteria, effective measures were determined in selecting fire stations sites. In the next step, location and descriptive information of each criterion were collected; then by using ArcGIS software, layers needed to shape file format was created after changing urban plans DWG format. However, criteria and sub-criteria weighted based on AHP method and creating layers were reclassified. At the end, by using overlapping indexes the final map site selecting of fire stations in Kermanshah obtained. According to the results, hotel and gas station as the compatible land use have the lowest and highest role in selecting fire stations sites. In addition, intercity terminal and health and care land uses have the lowest and greatest impact in selecting fire stations sites. The results show that the existing stations are not sufficient and some of them have been built in the wrong place. The output plan represents the optimal locations for the establishment of fire stations in Kermanshah.

The emergency line operator 112 is a voluntary activity in Red Crescent society which has lots of psychological pressure due to crisis and stress. Stressful jobs needs to identify behavioral and personality characteristics. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the relationship between personality traits, self-efficacy and problem solving styles with resiliency in emergency response center operators in Red Crescent society. In this cross-sectional correlation study, all operator men (248) in emergency line 112 were studied in 2014. Then, 103 operators were selected by using convenience sampling and questionnaire of demographic data, self-efficacy and problem solving styles with resiliency. It is worth mentioning that about 93 persons completed the questionnaire. Finally, data was analyzed by using SPSS, variance and multiple regression. The results are as follows: the personality traits of extraversion and conscious have a positive relationship with resilience; conscious and self-efficacy are able to predict the operators’ resiliency; the approach style has a significant relationship with resilience about 0/05. (r=0/209). Also, the relationship of psychological resiliency with trust style, creative style and efficient style are meaningful r=0/281, r=0/442 and r=0/402 respectively. However, the copying creative style can predict 18/6% of resilience changes. Long-term exposure to stress factors regardless of the operators’ needs such as time and place of rest, long working hours and little time between calls in order to evacuate the excitement of news events can impact on both operators’ problem-solving styles and their resilience and have adverse effect on mental health and job performance. Therefore, psychosocial support of operators can facilitate the goals achievements of Red Crescent society. In addition, based on the findings of this study, further researches should be made in order to evaluate this group of relief workers with more detailed psychological needs.

Earthquake is known as one of the most important issue in urban planning and crisis management in Iran. With average number of 43/1 earthquake per year, Iran ranks third in the world after China and Indonesia. Kerman as one of the major and strategic city of Iran is at risk of earthquakes despite seismic and active faults. However, Kerman 4th district has doubled the importance of planning for relief and rescue and housing due to distressed areas, fine city blocks and lack of buildings seismic strength in its most neighborhoods. With the aim of selecting housing centers, this research aimed to analyze Kerman's 4th District as a case study. Therefore, the map features and limiting factors are combined by using GIS and developing criteria which is affected by natural and desired physical conditions in the mentioned area. Boolean logic model was used to select the housing centers. The results showed that only six sites are suitable for housing; thus, the hierarchical analysis process (AHP) was used in order to select the most appropriate site. According to the effective measures of effectiveness and site performance, Mosalla of Kerman and sports ground close to has been determined as the best place for emergency and temporary housing.

Fire stations are examples of important and vital serving centers in cities during and after crisis. It is obvious that on time services of fire stations depend on locating at suitable places in order to enable firefighters to reach the scene and take necessary measures in less time without any constraints of urban environment and least negative impact on the lives of residents. In this paper, location and function of fire stations in Tabriz city has been analyzed and new stations were located using method of descriptive-analysis, network analysis, AHP model, GIS, spatial distribution. The results show that Tabriz is facing a shortage in the number and distribution of fire stations and the distribution pattern of these stations do not fit in with the development and density of city. These stations cover only 60% of built area of the city and 30 percent of legal limits. According to the priorities, this result is achieved that the commercial center of the city, worn texture and marginalized communities and populated areas are among the areas with the highest priority. Also, it concluded that the combined use of AHP model and network analysis in GIS can be a suitable model for the fire stations locating and prioritizing in different cities.

Psychological stress of stressful jobs can affect the mental health of its members and damage to the services quality to the clients. Thus, the aim of this study was to evaluate the mental health and related factors among the volunteers’ groups and members of student centers of Red Crescent society in Borujen. In this cross-sectional study, by random sampling about 230 members were studied and selected among student centers of Red Crescent society. Data was gathered by a two-part questionnaire consisted of demographic information and health survey (GHQ). Also, data was analyzed by using SPSS-16 and tests of Fisher exact and Chi-square. (0.05) The results showed the obtained mean and standard deviation from the General Health Questionnaire between samples are 50.28±29.88 and totally about 56.52% had psychological disorders. The domain of mental health was examined in depression and anxiety about 65.21% and 68.69% respectively. Also, significant difference between marital statuses, education level and gender with mental health were observed. (p<0.05) According to the high prevalence of mental health problems in the research findings, officials’ attention involved in mental health in universities is essential in order to prevent and resolve the problems. In particular, student centers are the best places for planning and education to increase the level of youth mental health.

Each year, urban accidents cause thousands of deaths physical and mental and financial losses in the world. Therefore, the study of pattern and conditions of accidents are very important in various aspects. The paper aims to assess the epidemiologic pattern of accidents reported to the Firefighting and Safety Services Organization in Zahedan. In this retrospective and descriptive-analytical study, 373 accidents reported to Firefighting and Safety Services Organization in Zahedan from 2011 to 2013 was assessed and analyzed based on available data using Chi-square, Fisher Exact Tests and SPSS.16. (p=0.05) In this study, 29.2 percent of accident reported in the spring season, 64% were fire accident, 35.4% were happened in house buildings and 52.8% in residential places. Most of the accidents include deliberately and violence (13.1%), traffic accidents (10.17%) and electrical accidents (9.1%). The mortality and injury were reported in 4% and 17% of accidents, respectively. There was not statistically significant relationship between mortality and injury with type of the accident and type of the building that accident happened in it (P>0.5). However, there was statistically a significant relationship between type of the building that accident happened in it and economic burden (P=0.032) and between rapid action and injury occurrence. (P=0.021) According to the result, major accident were fire accident, therefore fire organizations need to equip their fire extinguishing systems and implement staffs education systems more and more in this field. As the number of houses building accident is more than apartments, so reconstruction old buildings and education about safety with priority of old building is too important. It seems that in some cases people who have done primary action may cause some problems to distinguishers. Therefore, they must have trained necessary educations and correct action. It sound that type of accident is not main issue, rather thought and interpose with accident and the rate of facilities must be in priority.