"Disasters are difficult to manage for many reasons: the immediacy of the event, magnitude of the event, lack of evidence-based practices, and the limited usefulness of many developed protocols. Consequently, combining academic approaches with realistic and practical recommendations continues to be an underdeveloped aspect of disaster texts. The Oxford American Handbook of Disaster Medicine offers a functional blend of science with pragmatism. Approached from a real-world perspective, the handbook is a portable guide that provides sufficient scientific background to facilitate broader application and problem solving yet approach the topic in a prioritized fashion, supporting rapid understanding and utilization. Contributing authors are clinical and public health providers with disaster experience. This book encompasses the entire scope of disaster medicine from general concepts and fundamental principles to both manmade and natural threats"--Provided by publisher.

Definition of a Disaster -- All-Hazards Approach -- The Disaster Cycle: An Overview of Disaster Phases -- Mitigation Phase of Disasters -- Preparedness Phase of Disaster -- Response Phase of Disaster -- Recovery Phase of Disasters -- Local-Level Disaster Response -- State-Level Disaster Response -- Federal Disaster Response -- Military Disaster Response -- Emergency Management in Disasters -- Emergency Medical Services -- Public Health in Disasters -- International Disaster Response -- Complex Humanitarian Emergencies -- Hospital Components of Disaster Response -- Hospital Administration Disaster Response -- Hospital Ancillary Services Disaster Response -- Hospital Medical Staff Disaster Response -- Hospital Nursing Disaster Response -- Disaster Length: An Overview -- Short Term Events (Hours) -- Long Term Events (Days) -- Extended Events (Weeks to Months) -- Hazard Vulnerability Analysis -- Drills and Evaluation -- Communications -- Decontamination -- Evacuation -- Force Health Protection -- Incident Command System -- Mass Sheltering -- The National Response Framework -- Pediatric Concerns -- Personal Protective Equipment -- Regional Mass Care -- Provider Mental Health -- Disaster Triage -- Vulnerable Populations -- Research in Disaster and Triage Settings -- Disaster Training and Education -- Medical Ethics in Disasters -- Politics and Disasters -- Rural Approaches -- Urban Approaches -- Terrorism -- Public Media Relations -- Ultrasound in Disaster Medicine -- Disaster Informatics -- Palliative Care in Disaster Medicine -- Seasonal Risks and Variations of an Aerosolized Bioterror Attack -- Legal Aspects of Disaster Medicine -- Man Made Threats: An Overview -- Biological Disasters -- Anthrax -- Botulism -- Plague -- Smallpox -- Tularemia -- Viral Hemorrhagic Fevers -- Other Biological Agents -- Chemical Disasters -- Asphyxiants -- Blistering Agents -- Organophosphates/Nerve Gases -- Cyanide and Other Chemical Agents -- Pulmonary Agents -- Riot Control Agents -- Explosives -- Mass Shootings -- Nuclear Terrorism and Disasters -- Radiological Terrorism -- Mechanical and Structural Disasters -- Land -- Automobile Disasters -- Bus Disasters -- Fires -- Rail Disasters -- Subway Disasters Air and Sea -- Aviation Disasters -- Helicopter Disasters -- Ship Disasters -- Natural Disasters -- Natural Disasters: An Overview -- Avalanche -- Cold Weather -- Earthquakes -- Flooding -- Heat Wave -- Hurricane Disasters -- Landslides and Mudslides -- Lightening Strikes -- Influenza Pandemic -- Tornadoes -- Tsunami -- Volcanic Eruption -- Post-disaster Considerations -- Survivor Mental Health -- Displaced Populations -- Lessons Learned -- International Disaster Response Organizations -- Future Humanitarian Crises.