Abstract:
Following the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE) and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident in 2011, mandatory evacuation orders were issued to residents living near the nuclear power plant in Fukushima prefecture, including some patients receiving home oxygen therapy. Although the vulnerability of patients with home oxygen therapy (one of the population groups most vulnerable to disasters) has been noted, there is little information on the health effects of evacuation in the event of a radiation disaster. A 90-year-old man diagnosed with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease since the age of 70, and lived in a town located approximately 20 km south of the nuclear power plant, died 8 months after the disaster due to worsening health conditions. This case reveals the potential for both physical and psychological burdens experienced by vulnerable groups like patients undergoing home oxygen therapy during evacuations in times of disaster. Although it is only a case report and the information is limited, severe respiratory distress requiring home oxygen therapy may present a significant risk factor for disaster-related deaths, especially in cases where evacuations are prolonged, such as in nuclear disasters. Due to the challenge of obtaining prompt public support immediately after a disaster, home oxygen therapy patients may need to prioritize self-help and mutual assistance in their disaster preparedness efforts.
摘要:
在2011年东日本大地震(GEJE)和福岛第一核电站事故之后,向居住在福岛县核电站附近的居民发出了强制疏散命令,包括一些接受家庭氧气治疗的患者。尽管已经注意到接受家庭氧气治疗的患者(最容易遭受灾难的人群之一)的脆弱性,很少有关于辐射灾难事件中疏散对健康的影响的信息。一名90岁的男子从70岁开始被诊断出患有慢性阻塞性肺疾病,住在核电站以南约20公里的城镇,由于健康状况恶化,灾难发生后8个月死亡。这个案例揭示了弱势群体所经历的身体和心理负担的可能性,例如在灾难时期撤离期间接受家庭氧气治疗的患者。虽然只是病例报告,资料有限,需要家庭氧气治疗的严重呼吸窘迫可能是灾难相关死亡的重要风险因素,特别是在疏散时间延长的情况下,比如核灾难。由于灾难发生后立即获得公众支持的挑战,家庭氧气治疗患者可能需要在备灾工作中优先考虑自助和互助。