Investigation on Health and Nutrition Status of Rescue Team Members During Pakistan Floods
January 2014
in “
Chinese Journal of Disaster Medicine
”
TLDR Rescue team members had poor nutrition and many health issues during the Pakistan floods.
The study investigated the dietary structure, nutrient intake, and health status of the China International Search and Rescue Team during the Pakistan floods. It found that team members had significantly reduced intake of protein, energy, and fat, and lacked essential minerals and vitamins, with many nutrients only reaching 27.65%-75.65% of the recommended nutrient intake (RNI). The team experienced high rates of malnutrition (69.05%) and various health issues, including edema, diarrhea, constipation, mouth sores, and hair loss. The study concluded that there were serious problems in the nutritional support provided and emphasized the need for improved nutritional research and the development of standardized food for rescue environments.