Review of publications

Series on Hospital Disaster Mitigation Available in English

The publication of the Spanish series Mitigación de Desasters en las Instalaciones de la Salud was announced in the July newsletter. The English version is now avail able from PAHO. The volumes making up the series Mitigation of Disastres in Health Facilities: Evaluation and Reduction of Physical and Functional Vulnerability, are written for four different audiences. General Issues is an introduction to the issues of vulnerability and mitigation. Administrative Issues, treats general issues as well as hospital emergency plans. Architectural Issues and Engineering Issues are meant for professionals familiar with structural analysis and design. Please write to the Editor of this Newsletter for copies in English.

Protecting Water and Sanitation Systems

Services that provide safe water and adequate sanitation are critical to preventing disease and enhancing people's social and economic wellbeing, particularly in the face of natural disasters. Safeguarding these systems is the topic of Planificación para Atender Situaciones de Emergencia en Sistemas de Agua Potable y Alcantarillado (Planning Emergency Response for Water and Sanitation Systems), recently published by PAHO. The book provides guidelines for water authorities in assessing the vulnerability of a system's components and operations, setting up an emergency committee and plan, and applying mitigation measures. There are numerous forms that can be used by administrators to get the assessment process started. For copies of the book (available in Spanish only), please write the Edit of this Newsletter