A panel titled “Reflections on the February 6 Earthquake” was held by Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine and Medical Students Association Club. The panel, chaired by Üsküdar University Vice-Rector Hikmet Koçak, was attended by Prof. Dr. Mehmet Şükrü Sever, faculty member of İstanbul University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Nephrology, and Prof. Dr. Lale Sever, faculty member of Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medical Sciences, Division of Child Health and Diseases.
The panel, which attracted significant interest from students, was held in the Ibn-i Sina Auditorium.
Üsküdar University Faculty of Medicine Dean Prof. Dr. Haydar Sur also attended the panel.
Prof. Dr. Hikmet Koçak: "There's a lot healthcare professionals can do before an earthquake"
Üsküdar University Vice-Rector Hikmet Koçak, emphasizing that there is a lot to be done before an earthquake, stated: "There's a lot healthcare professionals can do before an earthquake. We try to convey whatever resources we have. As an academic institution and as healthcare professionals, we consider what we can do when faced with such a disaster. Our department generally gains importance after an earthquake, but of course, there's a lot we can do before it. Therefore, it is up to us to explain what needs to be done."
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Şükrü Sever: "Healthcare personnel must provide information about disaster medicine"
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Şükrü Sever, faculty member of İstanbul University Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine and Nephrology, speaking about disaster medicine and emphasizing the importance of healthcare personnel providing information on this matter, stated: "I speak extensively about disaster medicine and crush syndrome both domestically and internationally. Turkey is a country of earthquakes. We frequently face earthquakes and disasters all over the country. If these disasters are very large and cannot be dealt with locally, and if there is a need to receive help from the surrounding areas or even from other countries, then we are truly talking about a disaster. Disasters have many different classifications, but the simplest and most commonly used can be called natural and human-made artificial disasters. Natural disasters, which we will focus on today, include earthquakes, tsunamis, and also hurricanes, which are quite common in South America. Therefore, every healthcare professional must contribute by providing information about disaster medicine."
"Our research on the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes continues"
Prof. Dr. Mehmet Şükrü Sever, providing information about crush syndrome, underlined that even if disaster victims have recovered, they carry a lifelong risk. Sever stated: "Our research on the Kahramanmaraş earthquakes is still ongoing. We estimate there are between two and three thousand patients with crush syndrome. Many factors are effective in the emergence of crush syndrome. Of course, the severity of the disaster, the population density of the region – that is, in a vast desert, no matter how severe the earthquake, crush syndrome is unlikely to occur. Some disaster victims who are exposed to full trauma lose their lives without being able to hide. Partially recovered disaster victims, however, have a lifelong ongoing risk."
Prof. Dr. Lale Sever: "Children require special care and a different perspective in disasters"
Prof. Dr. Lale Sever, faculty member of Cerrahpaşa Faculty of Medicine, Department of Internal Medical Sciences, Division of Child Health and Diseases, drawing attention to the importance of trauma experienced by children during and after an earthquake, stated: "Children are one of the most vulnerable or disaster-sensitive groups in disasters. Pregnant women and the elderly come after them. Children are not a copy or a miniaturized version of adults. Children's physical characteristics, physiological characteristics, and even psychological characteristics are different from adults. Children require special care and a different perspective in disasters. Sick children, both those who fall ill in the acute phase and those with chronic illnesses, need more trained healthcare personnel. When a child becomes a disaster victim, they can be injured or die. They can fully recover, but their psychological problems may persist. Children who are not injured can be completely healthy, just like adults, but psychological problems can be carried into later stages of their lives."
After students' questions were answered, flowers were presented to the speakers.
The panel concluded with a group photo session.