Damage done to children in the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake

In the Hanshin-Awaji earthquake, the Higashi-Nada, Nada, and Nagata areas were hit by the tremor with an intensity of 7 out of 7 on the seismic scale and in the Nagata area there was also damage due to a big fire. Around the port area, there was severe damage and it had a negative influence in an economic aspect. In the Suma area, there was also a big fire. The fire approached our hospital so we had to take refuge. And that meant the hospital was not functioning well at that time. Due to the halt of the lifeline in the hospital, we could not give proper treatment and had to transfer the patients to other hospitals as soon as possible. I think the urgent transfer system to other hospitals is essential in a large-scale disaster.

In the disaster, two typical kinds of disease and injury were seen. One is a so-called "Crush Syndrome" and the other is "Post Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)". Crush Syndrome is caused by the poisons that are generated by the death (necrosis) of muscular tissues of the limbs of victims who suffered under collapsed houses. This leaves scars in both the body and mind.

There are three main causes of PTSD, they are 1) the death of parents (especially the mother), 2) the collapse of the home, and 3) the experiences in a shelter. We have to pay attention to children who have experienced these three causes and should have more communication with them.

I was able to see 2 different aspects of human beings at one time in this disaster. In the disaster, people helped each other, but not any more now. In my opinion, true richness is not the things that will be broken easily, but the mind. I hope the young will think about how to live richly in mind and look for the answer.