Fukushima Prefecture Regional Disaster Medical Activities as a Victim of the Great East Japan Earthquake

Summary: When the Earthquake struck, Masu Memorial Hospital was forced to suspend routine medical service. After the earthquake, there were serious problems with high radiation levels in the residential areas of the Nakadori region of Fukushima Prefecture, where the hospital is located. As a result, children’s outdoor activities were restricted for two years. Witnessing the reality of the children’s situation and feeling helpless, the hospital decided to study disaster medicine and fight for the children’s generation. In August 2013, the team participated in the Fukushima DMAT training. It was also convinced that there is disaster medical care that can be provided only by those who were in charge of community medical care. After the DMAT training, recognizing the importance of regional disaster response, the hospital is currently researching past disasters in the Adachi region of Fukushima Prefecture, where the hospital is located, and has established a department in charge of this area to examine how to respond to disasters daily. As a result, it was able to conduct external activities for various disasters that occurred outside of Fukushima Prefecture. In particular, in 2019, the team assisted hospitals submerged by the Abukuma River flooding. In recognition of these achievements, a Disaster Emergency Medical Department was organized within our hospital in 2018, and in 2021, the hospital was designated as a Disaster Base Hospital of Fukushima prefecture. In times of disaster, one must have the courage to calmly and directly face unpredictable events and make appropriate decisions. As medical professionals in Fukushima Prefecture, the goal is to continue efforts to build a disaster medical organization with colleagues that can be passed on to the next generation.