Health Issues Related to Tornadoes
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Dr. Frank Bia, an expert in infectious diseases and international health, joined AmeriCares after a 30-year career at the Yale University School of Medicine, where he served as Professor of both Medicine (Infectious Diseases) and Laboratory Medicine (Clinical Microbiology). He was also co-director of the Yale/Johnson & Johnson Physician Scholars in International Health Program for young physicians training at Yale and elsewhere.
Read Dr. Bia's Bio > |
Tornadoes generate the most violent winds of any storm on earth. AmeriCares' most recent tornado response was to the Greensburg, Kansas, tornado (May 2007). Eight years earlier, in May 1999, AmeriCares had responded to multiple hurricanes in Kansas and Oklahoma which caused $1.5 billion in damage.
Injury-causing factors:
- High winds
- Building collapse
- Flooding in the aftermath of the hurricane
- Downed power lines
- Falling objects
Common injuries experienced during and after tornadoes:
- Most common: Contaminated cuts, scrapes, lacerations (torn or ragged wounds), abrasions (skin removed by friction) and puncture wounds. All of these may be contaminated due to sand, soil and foreign bodies in the wind
- Second-most common: Fractures
- Severe head injuries
- Minor concussions (brain injury from head impact)
- Eye injuries
Important medical supplies during and after tornadoes:
- Antibiotics
- Saline solutions to maintain blood pressure
- Tetanus immunizations
- Other medicines and supplies for the injuries (to skin, eyes, head and bones) mentioned above.
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