Disaster medicine: lessons from Enschede and Volendam]

Two major disasters hit the Netherlands recently: on May 13th 2000, a local fireworks depot exploded in the middle of the city of Enschede and on New Year's Eve 2001, fire destroyed a pub full of people in Volendam. Lessons from the involvement of medical services in these disasters include: disaster medicine must be seen as an extension of emergency care. Hospital staff should be familiar with the procedures in case of a disaster, and regular practice on a regular basis is mandatory. Logistics, as well as individual care of the victims, differ in detail from everyday practice, notably during the first hour following the disaster. Attention should be paid to the provision of psychological aftercare soon after the event for the victims and their families, as well as for health care workers.