Üsküdar Üniversitesi Health Services Vocational School (SHMYO) First and Emergency Aid Program organized the ‘February 6, 2023 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes 1st Anniversary Commemoration Program’. The online event was attended by Lecturer Dr. Ayşe Yıldırım, Head of the Emergency and Disaster Management Program at the Health Services Vocational School, and Lecturer Ayşe Bağlı, Head of the First and Emergency Aid Program. Within the scope of the program, the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes that occurred a year ago were remembered, and participants were once again confronted with the reality of earthquakes.
During the online event, attention was drawn to the precautions that should be taken in the event of a possible earthquake.
Lecturer Ayşe Yıldırım: “Türkiye confronted the reality of earthquakes once again”
Lecturer Dr. Ayşe Yıldırım, Head of SHMYO Emergency and Disaster Management Program, pointed out that the Kahramanmaraş Pazarcık-centered earthquake on February 6, 2023, once again confronted Turkey with the reality of earthquakes; “As we know, Turkey is a country with high seismic activity. Earthquakes we experienced in the past unfortunately resulted in great losses. Until a year ago, the largest earthquake experienced in Turkey was the Erzincan earthquake in 1939, which claimed approximately 33,000 lives, but the February 6 Kahramanmaraş earthquakes unfortunately became the disaster of the century. On February 6, 2023, at 04:17, a 7.7 Mw magnitude earthquake occurred centered in Kahramanmaraş Pazarcık, followed 9 hours later at 13:24 by a second earthquake of 7.6 Mw magnitude centered in Kahramanmaraş Ekinözü. The Kahramanmaraş earthquakes were the disaster of the century, directly causing losses in 11 provinces, claiming approximately 55,000 lives, leaving many injured, and reconstruction efforts are still ongoing in the earthquake regions today. With this disaster, Turkey once again confronted the reality of earthquakes.” she stated.
Carrying out preparedness efforts is of great importance in disaster management…
Lecturer Dr. Ayşe Yıldırım, who provided important information on what needs to be done before, during, and after an earthquake; “As disaster managers and academics, to keep the reality of earthquakes from being forgotten and to teach how to combat them, we, as Üsküdar Üniversitesi SHMYO, organized the ‘February 6 Kahramanmaraş Earthquakes 1st Year Commemoration Program’. In our event, after first addressing what happened during the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes, we will clarify topics such as ‘What is an earthquake? How do earthquakes occur?’. Then, we will convey important information on what needs to be done before an earthquake, actions to be taken during an earthquake, and what to do after an earthquake. Especially in our country with high seismic activity, carrying out pre-earthquake damage reduction and preparedness efforts is of great importance in disaster management. Within the scope of the prepared program, emphasis will be placed on pre-disaster activities, and simple precautions we can take at home and in our workplaces will be included.” she said.
“Knowing first aid well is extremely important for saving lives”
Lecturer Ayşe Bağlı, Head of the First and Emergency Aid Program, speaking about what can be done as first aid during an earthquake; “An earthquake is one of the most damaging natural disasters. In disasters like earthquakes, knowing first aid well is extremely important for intervening with the injured and saving lives. First aid consists of life-saving interventions performed at the scene of the incident, by those present, with available means.” she stated.
Bağlı, speaking about what generally needs to be done when administering first aid during earthquakes:
• First, ensure your own safety and the safety of your surroundings.
• If there is someone more experienced in first aid nearby, let them take the main intervention and assist.
• Assess the injured person calmly and quickly.
• Do not intervene in matters you are unfamiliar with.
• Calm the injured person and their relatives.
• Provide detailed and accurate information to the healthcare personnel arriving at the scene.
In the continuation of the program, information was provided on common earthquake injuries such as bleeding, fractures, burns, and frostbite, and the program concluded after a Q&A session.