New Journal Features Disaster Medicine

The International Journal of Disaster Medicine is an international journal devoted exclusively to the field of disaster medicine. Practitioners and researchers in health care, academia, industry and government around the world will find analyses, ideas, new application of knowledge and discussions on a wide variety of topical issues that will help them enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of their policies in disaster medicine. For more information, visit www.tandf.co.uk/journals/titles/

OAS-led Committee to Hold Simulation of Terrorist Attack

The Inter-American Committee against Terrorism (CICTE) is committed to strengthening hemispheric cooperation and to continuing to implement specific measures to prevent, combat and eliminate international terrorism. In this framework, next June the CICTE will organize an executive-level table-top simulation game to explore issues surrounding a simulated terrorist attack in the Caribbean. The exercise will serve as an instrument to stimulate national authorities to develop appropriate policies. More information at www.cicte.oas.org.

ISDR Looks at Information Systems and Disaster Risk

The Secretariat of the International Strategy for Disaster Reduction prepared a background paper for the World Summit on the Information Society, held in Geneva last December. Focusing on information systems and disaster risk reduction, the paper recommends how to incorporate disaster risk reduction into the Summit’s outcomes and follow-up activities—starting with the premise that risk reduction begins with access to information. The paper is available on-line at www.unisdr.org/news/WSIS/WSIS.pdf.

WADEM to Host Emergency Medicine Community

The World Association of Disaster and Emergency Medicine will host the 3rd Pan-American Congress on Disaster and Emergency Medicine from 4-7 April 2004 in El Salvador. PAHO will support the participation of selected national experts from Latin America who will exchange experiences and develop a regional guide on the organization of pre-hospital emergency care systems.