Disaster Committee
The task force group burn disasters in Europe was formed in 2009 at the EBA Conference in Lausanne to clarify the current European structures for cross border transfer of burn patients in disaster situations.
The following fields of activity for the EBA were identified:
- Identify nation-specific disaster plans
- Establish a map of risk regions
- Explore EU grants to fund that research
- Develop an internet-teaching platform
- Identify normal and disaster capacity of burn centers
- Disaster terminology
- Harmonize victim ID Sheets
- Optimize triage sheets for burn victims
- Legal basis for x-border medical transport
- Minimal standards of burn care
- Encourage insurance x-border coverage
- Explore transportation capacities
The initial work of the group showed that in Europe a functioning system of disaster management without a specific focus on burns has been established already. Also cross border financial coverage is working according to European legalization. National maps of risk regions are established and shared between authorities. The further task of the EBA will be to look into the specific aspects of these standards in relation to the needs of burn therapy.
Survey of infrastructure and outcome in Europe
Following the example of an investigation on structures and training in burn units of German speaking European countries (published in Burns 57 (2011) 257-64) the EBA will expand this data collection on all European Member countries of the EBA. An internet based platform and automated questionnaire will be provided in order to facilitate the data input for the members.
