FUENTE: CONFERACION EUROPEA DE SINDICATOS

These tasks shall be carried out by fire-fighting units, CP technical rescue units, and teams providing rescue services from and on water. The units and teams mentioned above shall be assisted in the performance of their tasks by mandatory state public utility services responsible for water management, road maintenance companies, and construction companies with their machinery, as well as others. If required, Slovenian Army units may also take part in the implementation of these tasks.

8.2.2. Emergency medical treatment

Within the framework of emergency medical treatment, the following measures shall be taken:

• emergency (lay) treatment provided by first aid teams, or medical assistance provided by

the health care staff in the field, or by community health centres;

• emergency specialist medical treatment provided by general and specialised hospitals; • hygienic and anti-epidemical measures, implemented by various services under the

supervision of the Slovenian Health Inspectorate, and by institutes responsible for health protection; and

• provision of medicine, medical supplies and equipment.

Minor injuries can be treated by the injured within the scope of personal and mutual protection schemes.

Medical first aid shall be provided, to the maximum extent possible, by community health centres and hospitals; however, if the number of those injured during floods is great, CP first aid teams shall be mobilised and health care institutions shall begin to operate in compliance with the instructions of the Ministry of Health regarding the scope of work of the health

sevices during natural and other disasters. If required, the Slovenian Army Medical Service may also take part in the implementation of these tasks.

Drowning fatalities may also occur during floods. For water rescue and first aid services, special skills and equipment may be required. These tasks shall be carried out by special diving, fire-fighting and civil protection units trained and prepared for rescue services from and on water.

8.2.2.1. .Psychological aid

Destructive earthquakes are characterised by sudden and violent action. Those who survive will normally suffer severe stress and will need psychological aid. This aid shall be offered by different experts, such as psychologists, therapists and priests.

Psychological aid to survivors shall be organised by municipalities in cooperation with expert services. One of the methods of addressing this issue is to prepare in advance special leaflets for psychological first aid with instructions for the inhabitants on what they can do to help themselves and where they can find professional help, if necessary. The leaflets shall be distributed to survivors in the event of a disaster.

All training programmes for members of protection, rescue and relief forces shall include elements of psychological first aid.

8.2.3 Veterinary first aid

Veterinary first aid in the event of an earthquake shall include:

• collection of data on injured and deceased animals in the entire affected area, • giving of veterinary first aid to injured and sick animals,

• emergency slaughter of injured animals, • removal of animal corpses, and

• implementation of other hygienic and counter-epidemic measures

The tasks of veterinary first aid shall be carried out by veterinarians or veterinary organisations in cooperation with Civil Protection veterinary first aid teams and fire-fighting organisations.

8.2.4. Provision of basic living conditions

Provision of basic living conditions following an earthquake shall include:

- urgent medical care of people and animals,

- provision of accommodation and potable water, food, medication, and other necessities of

life,

- provision of essential communal infrastructure services, - supply of electricity,

- provision of key lines of communication,

- protection of cultural heritage

The implementation of tasks related to the provision of basic living conditions shall be the responsibility of public services and other organisations concerned with infrastructure as well as authorised Civil Protection commanders.

9 PERSONAL AND MUTUAL PROTECTION

Personal and mutual protection shall mean all measures by inhabitants to prevent and mitigate the consequences of an earthquake on their health, life and property. Organisation, development and direction of personal and mutual protection shall be the responsibility of the municipality. The municipal earthquake emergency plan shall include detailed instructions for the implementation of personal and mutual protection. In this respect, an important role shall be played by persons authorised for Civil Protection and by information centres established in municipalities. From these centres, activities shall be organised and carried out to bring the situation in the affected area back to normal.

10 EVALUATION OF DAMAGE

Evaluation of damage caused by floods shall comprise both the assessment of damage to facilities and other damage, given that both assessments are done, as a rule, at the same time. Determination of damage to construction works and their further serviciability shall be the basis for the majority of activities aiming to restore normal conditions in the affected area; therefore, such determination shall be done in the shortest time possible.

Commissions for the assessment of damage after catastrophic floods shall begin their work by preparing preliminary assessments to be used as a basis for deciding on assistance to the affected municipalities, so that the latter can restore the basic conditions of work and for preparing rehabilitation programmes.

The national and regional commissions for the assessment of damage shall proceed by signing or assessing damage due to flooding on the basis of prescribed methodology for the assessment of damage caused by natural and other disasters. They shall be assisted in their work by the competent municipal and national authorities.

In order to accelerate the payment of insurance premiums to persons suffering damage, insurance agencies shall be obliged to direct their appraisers, as soon as possible after floods, to the affected area for an assessment of damage to insured structures.