AmeriCares is working with local authorities, hospital officials and other public-private partners to expand disaster preparedness and trauma training in India. The training and exercises:

• Are aimed at helping health care systems prepare for large-scale disasters.
• Respond to man-made disasters, such as last week’s terrorist attacks in Mumbai. 
• Prepare local response for natural disasters such as the 2004 Southeast Asian tsunami. 
• Give first responders, emergency medical personnel, local authorities and health care providers a unique opportunity to hone their skills. 
• Help emergency workers identify gaps in their disaster management systems in order to improve planning, coordination and communication.

“The recent attacks in Mumbai serve as a tragic reminder of why we need to invest further in disaster preparedness work,” said Elizabeth Furst Frank, senior vice president of global programs at AmeriCares.  “It is so important to have health care systems trained and ready to work in a coordinated way so lives can be saved in the immediate aftermath of a disaster.  The crisis situations that have occurred throughout India – from the devastating tsunami to last week’s terrorist attacks -- underscore the importance for communities around the world to be well prepared and able to treat people during an emergency.”