Impacts of ice disaster on health and daily life of residents

Objective To investigate the public health impacts associated with 2008 ice disaster in the harder-hitarea.Methods Across-sectional study was conducted to investigate the changes of population health,health services and activities of daily life associated with the ice disaster using standardized questionnaire in Tongren prefecture,Guizhou province at the end of the February,2008.Results Compared to same period in 2007,during the disaster,the total out-patient consulta tions rose by 29%,especially those owing to acute attack of respiratory disease and mechanical in jury.The total ambulance calls rose by 40%,especially those owing to fracture and abnormal condititon of pregnancy,while almost a quarter of these calls couldnt.beresponded.All the families investigated reported normal activities of daily life were interrupted,such as travel.supply of electric power and tap water.Among the residents,75% answered the telephone survey reporting they had been worried during the disaster,and the proportion of having problem in sleep or appetite were 17% and 13%.Conclusion According to the investigation,there are four problems could be considered as the consequences of the disaster,including increases of acute attack of respiratory illness and other mechanical injury,the change of care-seeking behavior among bone fracture patients,mental pressure caused by long-term social service interruption,outpatient counsultation,and dem and of emergency service which could not been satisfied.