Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Experiment Videos

The Laingsburg flood disaster.

A G Mac Mahon, J P Swart

    South African Medical Journal = Suid-Afrikaanse Tydskrif Vir Geneeskunde
    |May 28, 1983
    PubMed
    Summary
    This summary is machine-generated.

    The 1981 Karoo floods, particularly in Laingsburg, caused over 100 drowning deaths. This rare South African disaster highlighted critical aspects of medical services during natural flood events.

    Related Concept Videos

    You might also read

    Related Articles

    Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

    Sort by
    Same author

    HPCSA emergency care media release.

    South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde·2012
    Same author

    Non-emergency patient transport - an integral part of accessible comprehensive health care.

    South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde·2012
    Same author

    Disaster preparedness--looking forward.

    South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde·2011
    Same author

    The Red Cross (Western Cape Region) Air Ambulance Service.

    South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde·1986
    Same author

    The modified vital index in prehospital emergency care.

    South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde·1985
    Same author

    Sorting out triage in urban disasters.

    South African medical journal = Suid-Afrikaanse tydskrif vir geneeskunde·1985

    Area of Science:

    • Environmental Science
    • Disaster Medicine
    • Public Health

    Background:

    • The semi-arid Karoo region experienced severe natural floods in January 1981.
    • The town of Laingsburg was disproportionately affected, with over 100 fatalities due to drowning.
    • The scale of this flood disaster was unprecedented in South Africa.

    Purpose of the Study:

    • To document the medical service aspects of the 1981 Laingsburg flood disaster.
    • To analyze the response and challenges faced by medical services during a rare, large-scale natural flood event.

    Main Methods:

    • Review of medical records and emergency response reports.
    • Analysis of casualty data and medical interventions.
    • Assessment of public health implications and disease surveillance.

    Related Experiment Videos

    Main Results:

    • Over 100 individuals drowned, with most bodies unrecovered.
    • Minimal injuries and no subsequent epidemic diseases were reported.
    • Specific challenges and successes in the provision of medical services were identified.

    Conclusions:

    • The 1981 Karoo flood underscores the importance of robust emergency medical preparedness for rare, high-impact natural disasters.
    • Effective medical service management is crucial for mitigating the human cost of such events, even with limited injuries.
    • Lessons learned from this event can inform future disaster response strategies in similar regions.