In recent decades natural, technological and other disasters have been increasing in frequency and magnitude, and the involvement of international organizations and professionals from different disciplines has been growing in parallel. By definition major emergencies call for outside aid and often international assistance. The many agencies and individual helpers from different countries, different languages and different specialties converge on the stricken site with the sole object of helping the victims, who are themselves of a different background and language. Communication among these people and a certain understanding of the varying terminology of the many professions and activities therefore become paramount if the difficulties of the disaster situation are not to be compounded with difficulties of communication. A common ground for understanding between doctors, engineers, meteorologists, nurses, nutritionists, planners, government officials, transport personnel and the many other workers involved in disaster preparedness, relief and rehabilitation is therefore indispensable. It is to this end that this multilingual, multidisciplinary Dictionary serves as an invaluable tool for the disaster manager, whatever his background and wherever he may be called upon to work. A precursor in Disaster Medicine, Dr. William Gunn has conducted numerous emergency missions for the United Nations and other agencies, and this Dictionary has been tested in the field and in training courses over many years.

In recent decades natural, technological and other disasters have been increasing in frequency and magnitude, and the involvement of international organizations and professionals from different disciplines has been growing in parallel. By definition major emergencies call for outside aid and often international assistance. The many agencies and individual helpers from different countries, different languages and different specialties converge on the stricken site with the sole object of helping the victims, who are themselves of a different background and language. Communication among these people and a certain understanding of the varying terminology of the many professions and activities therefore become paramount if the difficulties of the disaster situation are not to be compounded with difficulties of communication. A common ground for understanding between doctors, engineers, meteorologists, nurses, nutritionists, planners, government officials, transport personnel and the many other workers involved in disaster preparedness, relief and rehabilitation is therefore indispensable. It is to this end that this multilingual, multidisciplinary Dictionary serves as an invaluable tool for the disaster manager, whatever his background and wherever he may be called upon to work. A precursor in Disaster Medicine, Dr. William Gunn has conducted numerous emergency missions for the United Nations and other agencies, and this Dictionary has been tested in the field and in training courses over many years.

In recent decades natural, technological and other disasters have been increasing in frequency and magnitude, and the involvement of international organizations and professionals from different disciplines has witnessed a parallel growth.

The 2nd edition of the Dictionary of Disaster Medicine and Humanitarian Relief is an essential and practical reference for all those who work in humanitarian relief. This new, expanded edition presents more than 3000 definitions and acronyms covering the entire multidisciplinary scope of disaster medicine and humanitarian relief, as well as new fields such as climate change and bioterrorism. As natural disasters, humanitarian emergencies, and infectious disease epidemics increase in frequency and seriousness, this book is an important reference to assist international relief workers communicate with each other and with the media. The author has served as both the director of Emergency Humanitarian Operations of the World Health Organization, as well as the WHO’s chief of scientific terminology. As the Director-General Emeritus of the World Health Organization says in the Foreword, “This new expanded edition comes as a timely essential aid against the growing threats of inhuman violence and destructive disasters.”

English: The audience for this dictionary includes medical professionals working in multilingual environments, global health professionals in tourist areas, professionals in public health, humanitarian medicine, emergency disaster management, rescue teams and frequent travellers disposed to any kind of danger or health risk and therefore in the need of medical assistance while in a foreign country. In emergency situations even small misunderstandings can lead to the loss of valuable time and consequently lives, therefore this dictionary is created in very practical time-saving and easy-to-understand way for both medical professionals and their patients. Instead of one classical A to Z alphabetical order, it consists of several topics where terms regarding each topic are organized alphabetically. The topics start from very basic subjects of numbers and orientation and proceed with terminology concerning accidents and disasters, parts of the human body, injuries, symptoms and diseases, pharmacy, medical facilities, medical procedures, diagnostics, pregnancy and obstetrics. Consisting of over 3000 medical terms in five languages, this book is a valuable tool for medical students on exchange programs and can serve as a basic medical dictionary for translators. Francais: Pratique et facile a consulter, ce dictionnaire medical propose plus de 3000 termes medicaux en francais, anglais, espagnol, italien et croate, couvrant l'essentiel de la pratique medicale: orientation dans le temps et dans l'espace; les types des accidents, catastrophes et detresse; parties du corps humain; les symptomes, blessures et maladies; pharmacie; etablissements medicaux, procedures et soins; examens medicaux, grossesse et obstetrique. Espanol: Este diccionario medico espanol-ingles- frances-italiano-croata, proporciona de forma breve, clara y suficiente unos 3000 terminos medicos que cubren orientacion en el tiempo y espacio; accidentes y catastrofes; partes del cuerpo humano; sintomas, heridas y enfermedades; farmacia; facilidades medicas, procedimientos y asistencia medica; examenes medicos; embarazo y obstetricia. Italiano: Questo dizionario contiene piu di 3000 termini medici in italiano, inglese, francese, spagnolo e croato ed e stato concepito come un manuale compatto di facile comprensione di terminologia medica dall'orientamento nel tempo e spazio; gli accidenti, catastrofi e angoscia; parti del corpo umano; i sintomi, ferite e malattie; farmacia; istituzioni, procedure e cure di medicina ed esami medici, alla gravidanza e ostetricia. Hrvatski: Ovaj rjecnik sastoji se od preko 3000 medicinskih pojmova na hrvatskom, engleskom, francuskom, spanjolskom i talijanskom jeziku, prikazanih na jednostavan i razumljiv nacin koji obuhvaca orijentaciju u prostoru i vremenu; nesrece, katastrofe i pogibeljne situacije; dijelove ljudskog tijela; ozljede, simptome i bolesti; ljekarnistvo; medicinske ustanove, njegu i postupke; dijagnostiku te trudnocu i porodnistvo.