Maraş Earthquake on the 1st Anniversary...

Üsküdar University Vocational School of Health Services (VSHS) First and Emergency Aid Program organized the '1st Anniversary Commemoration Program of 6th of February 2023, Kahramanmaraş earthquakes'. The online event was attended by the Head of the Emergency and Disaster Management Program of the Vocational School of Health Services Instructor Ayşe Yıldırım Ph.D. and Head of First and Emergency Aid Program Instructor Ayşe Bağlı. Within the scope of the program, the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes that occurred a year ago were reminded, and the participants were once again confronted with the reality of earthquakes.

At the online event, attention was drawn to the precautions to be taken in a possible earthquake.

Instructor Ayşe Yıldırım: "Türkiye has once again faced the reality of the earthquake"

Pointing out that the earthquake centered in Pazarcık, Kahramanmaraş on February 6, 2023, once again confronted Türkiye with the reality of earthquakes, VSHS Emergency and Disaster Management Program Head Dr. Ayşe Yıldırım stated that "As we know, Türkiye is a country with high seismicity. Unfortunately, the earthquakes we have experienced in the past have resulted in great losses. Until 1 year ago, the biggest earthquake we experienced in Türkiye was the Erzincan earthquake that occurred in 1939, in which approximately 33 thousand people lost their lives, while the February 6 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes were unfortunately the disaster of the century. On February 6, 2023, at 04:17, an earthquake with a magnitude of 7.7 Mw centered in Pazarcık, Kahramanmaraş, followed by a second earthquake with a magnitude of 7.6 Mw centered in Kahramanmaraş Ekinözü at 13:24, 9 hours later. The Kahramanmaraş earthquakes were the disaster of the century, in which approximately 55 thousand people lost their lives, many injured people, and still work continues in earthquake zones today, causing direct losses to 11 provinces. With this disaster, Türkiye has once again faced the reality of earthquakes."

Carrying out preparatory work is of great importance in disaster management...

Giving important information about the work to be done before the earthquake, the behaviors to be done during the earthquake and what to do after the earthquake. Dr. Ayşe Yıldırım said that "As Disaster Managers and academicians, as Üsküdar University SHMYO, we organized '1st Year Commemoration Program of the February 6 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes' in order not to forget the reality of earthquakes and to teach them to fight against earthquakes. In our event, ‘What is an earthquake? How do earthquakes occur?' was discussed after first including what happened in the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes Then, we will convey important information about the work to be done before the earthquake, the behaviors to be done during the earthquake and what to do after the earthquake. Especially in our country which has high seismicity, it has great importance in disaster management to carry out pre-earthquake mitigation and preparation studies. Within the scope of the prepared program, emphasis will be placed on pre-disaster studies and simple precautions that we can take at home and at work will be included."

"Knowing first aid well is extremely important to save lives"

Talking about what can be done as first aid during an earthquake, First and Emergency Aid Program Head Instructor Ayşe Bağlı stated that "Earthquake is one of the most damaging natural disasters. In disasters such as earthquakes, it is extremely important to know first aid well to save lives. First aid is life-saving interventions made at the scene, by the people there, with the available facilities."

Talking about what should be done in general when first aid is provided in earthquakes, Bağlı said the following statements:

• First, ensure the safety of yourself and your environment.

• If there is someone in the environment who is more experienced in first aid, leave the main intervention to them and move to the assisting position.

• Assess the injured person calmly and quickly.

• Do not interfere with what you do not know.

• Calm the injured person and their relatives.

• Provide detailed and accurate information to the medical personnel arriving at the scene.

In the continuation of the program, they gave information about bleeding, fractures, burns and frostbite, which are the most common injuries in the earthquake, and the program ended after a question-and-answer session.

Üsküdar News Agency (ÜNA)