IntroductionDuring disaster relief, personnel's safety is very important. Mental well-being is a part of this safety issue. There is however a lack of objective mental well being monitoring tools, usable on scene, during disaster relief. This study covers the use of validated tools towards detection of psychological distress and monitoring of mental well being of disaster relief workers, during the Belgian First Aid and Support Team deployment after the Haiti earthquake in 2010.MethodologyThe study was conducted using a demographic questionnaire combined with validated measuring instruments: Belbin Team Role, Compassion Fatigue and Satisfaction Self-Test for Helpers, DMAT PsySTART, K6 + Self Report. A baseline measurement was performed before departure on mission, and measurements were repeated at day 1 and day 7 of the mission, at the end of mission, and 7 days, 30 days and 90 days post mission.ConclusionsThe study proved the ability to monitor mental well being and detect psychological distress, by self administered validated tools, during a real disaster relief mission. For practical reasons however some tools should be adapted to the specific use in the field. This study opens a whole new research area within the mental well-being and monitoring field.

Background: After the 12th January earthquake, leaving lots of Haitian families homeless, wounded or dead, many Haitian children were driven into refugee-camps. The Belgian First Aid and Support Team (B-FAST) arrived among the first international medical teams, and provided acute care to about 7000 patients during the first weeks. During the same period, five medical “out-of-hospital missions” into refugee camps were performed. Methods: We prospectivily noted all complaints of the patients that presented to our improvised medical field post. Results: A total of 1800 patients were seen, but only from 1233 the complete form was filled out. Almost 40% of these patients were minors. Average age was 7.65 years (range 1 day to 18 years), 53% were girls. Chief complaints were: cough (41.4%), stomachache (30.13%) and diarrhea (22.17%), followed by headache (14.23%), fever (12.97% but only objectified in 21% of those complaining), vomiting (10.88%), stuffy nose (10.04%) and anorexia (10%). Less common complaints included vertigo (7.95%), scabies (6.69%), eruption (5.44%) and itching (2.93%), eye (5.02%) and vaginal infections (4.60%), sore throat and earache (each 2.93%), running nose (1.26%), palpitations (1.26%) and general weakness (1.26%). Conclusion: Besides classical complaints caused by the earthquake itself (wound, fractures and bad healing), and besides the typical complaints awaited in the first weeks after such an event (epidemics, diarrhea), we noted a vast amount of respiratory problems in the Haitian children residing in refugeecamps. While composing WHO-kits to assist medics to provide help on the spot after an earthquake, this should be taken into concern.

We report the case of an 8 year old boy presenting with episodes of decreased consciousness. As the boy's father died of a sudden cardiac death (SCD) at the age of 31 years, among other causes a Brugada syndrome (BS) was suspected. The boy was further examined at the UZ Brussels Heart Rhythm Management Center. The intravenous administration of ajmaline confirmed a BS without ventricular arrhythmias. Syncope in children can be an imminent sign of BS. BS is a life threatening condition that can deteriorate into SCD. The boy presented with episodes of lowered consciousness, transpiration and paleness. Readmission for further investigation was required. Clinical observation and continuous registered EEG during sleep showed multiple epileptical incidents. Hence the child was diagnosed with new onset epilepsy. For initiation of antiepileptic therapy, the patient was admitted at the pediatric intensive care unit (PICU). Close clinical observation and cardiovascular monitoring with continuous 12-lead ECG registration were performed during orally administered sodium valproic acid. During this anticonvulsive treatment in a child with documented BS no significant alterations in ECG-findings were observed. In this particular patient sodium valproic acid treatment can be estimated as a safe anticonvulsive therapy.

s 15th World Congress on Disaster and Emergency Medicine s63 nailing; (3) plating; (4) amputation; (5) skin grafting; (7) malunion; and (8) treating the wound infections. The team also worked with Relief International of the US in different villages, such as Dudhai, Rappar, Baliari, and Chowbari. The team examined many pediatric patients—30% of them suffered from respiratory tract infection. The team examined about 3,000 patients within 10 days; 60% were trauma victims. The team also identified cases of anxiety, depression, and fear psychosis. Members felt that in the future, the team should prepare for better management in order to face such a disaster if they were to arrive suddenly with proper backup facilities, as are found developed countries.