Mass-casualty incidents (MCI) are a highly important issue in disaster medicine today. In this context, professional first responders play a fundamental role as they provide preparedness and initial care to the injured. The aim of this review is to describe the form and impact of different didactic concepts in triage exercises to prepare for an MCI response.

A Scoping review search was conducted in the databases PubMed, Medline, and Psyndex as an initial examination of this topic.

Seventeen studies were included in this review. Of the reviewed studies, 52.9% followed a randomized controlled trial design with pre-post intervention measurement. The interventions implemented in the studies were associated with an increase in knowledge and/or practical skills. Of media-based interventions, 42.9% show a comparable and 57.1% greater training effect than conventional teaching methods. According to 4 studies, technical and non-technical aids increase the triage accuracy.

The benefits of media-based interventions and of technical and non-technical aids should be evaluated by a subsequent systematic review with a broader database and search terms of studies. The differences between different triage algorithms need to be investigated in future studies. It must be noted that intervention is preferable to non-intervention.

As temperatures globally continue to rise, sporting events such as marathons will take place on warmer days, increasing the risk of exertional heat stroke (EHS).

The medical librarian developed and executed comprehensive searches in Ovid MEDLINE, Ovid Embase, CINAHL, SPORTDiscus, Scopus, and Web of Science Core Collection. Relevant keywords were selected. The results underwent title, abstract, and full text screening in a web-based tool called Covidence, and were analyzed for pertinent data.

A total of 3918 results were retrieved. After duplicate removal and title, abstract, and full text screening, 38 articles remained for inclusion. There were 22 case reports, 12 retrospective reviews, and 4 prospective observational studies. The races included half marathons, marathons, and other long distances. In the case reports and retrospective reviews, the mean environmental temperatures were 21.3°C and 19.8°C, respectively. Discussions emphasized that increasing environmental temperatures result in higher incidences of EHS.

With rising global temperatures from climate change, athletes are at higher risk of EHS. Early ice water immersion is the best treatment for EHS. Earlier start times and cooling stations for races may mitigate incidences of EHS. Future work needs to concentrate on the establishment of EHS prevention and mitigation protocols.

The aim of the present scoping review is to provide a comprehensive description and classification of the published research studies on education and training of paramedics and paramedic students in the context of disaster management with emphasis on educational/training techniques and their efficacy and the recent trends in this evolving field. The review is also designed to identify the main research gaps and to suggest recommendations for future research plans.

PubMed, Web of Science Core Collection, Scopus, Google Scholar, and ProQuest Dissertations and Theses were searched. Studies were included in the final analysis if they studied any aspect of paramedics or paramedic students’ education or training in the context of disaster management.

Forty-three studies fulfilled the selection criteria. Three themes were identified: 1) Conventional disaster education/training techniques; 2) Smart technology-based disaster education/training techniques; and 3) Development of and/or assessment of disaster education/training courses, programs, packages, or curricula.

While disaster triage training is the focus of many studies, a new trend is emerging that integrates smart technology into educational and training programs. Also, there is increasing international interest in developing disaster training programs and curricula.

Disaster risk reduction measures are now being developed based on social vulnerability. This study aimed to identify socially vulnerable areas to disasters in Razavi Khorasan Province, Iran.

The research utilized a mixed method approach conducted in 2 stages. First, a vulnerability index was created using 8 sub-indices, and the value of the index was calculated for each of the 91 rural districts in the study area. In the second stage, spatial analysis using Anselin’s Local Moran’s I was performed to identify the most vulnerable districts.

Results indicated that 40 of 91 districts, covering 49% of the total area, had high social vulnerability to disasters. Anselin’s Local Moran’s I analysis identified 2 high-high clusters consisting of 5 districts. The study also found that areas with higher social vulnerability were more susceptible to natural hazards such as floods and earthquakes.

Nearly half of the studied areas exhibited a high level of social vulnerability and were at risk of natural disasters. Implementing general measures to improve the socio-economic status of the population, such as increasing education and income levels, along with specific actions like assisting vulnerable populations in relocating to safer areas, can help mitigate disaster risks.