We don’t have to look hard to see disasters in the headlines: earthquakes, floods, armed conflicts, mass-casualty incidents, wildfires, etc. Wherever you work around the world, these events can occur and change what “normal” clinical practice looks like.
We’ve had structured teaching on asthma, sepsis, resuscitation, trauma. We’ve sat for exams and practised skills in simulation. But how much time has been spent on disaster medicine?
For most of us, the answer is almost none. And that’s awkward, because disasters aren’t rare “movie plot” scenarios anymore. Disasters and system failures are impacting the reality of clinical practice.
It’s not that we don’t care. It’s that most of us don’t know where to start.
Disaster medicine can feel overwhelming: unfamiliar language, dense documents, and an alphabet soup of acronyms. Many existing resources often assume you already know the basics.
That’s why we created the Disaster Medicine Handbook: A Quick Reference, to be the first step, a front door to disaster medicine.
What is the Handbook?
The Disaster Medicine Handbook is a free, plain-language online guide that breaks core concepts in disaster medicine into short, focused chapters.
It’s designed with learners in mind:
- Medical trainees
- Nurses and advanced practice providers
- EMS and prehospital clinicians
- Anyone disaster-curious who wants a clear, approachable way in
Plain Language First
A lot of existing disaster content assumes you already speak the language: ICS, HVA, MCI, ESF… It’s easy to feel lost before you even begin. This resource takes the opposite approach.
That means:
- Minimal jargon and clear explanations when needed
- Clear structure and formatting
- Real-world examples
- A focus on what matters most
We strive for clarity rather than overwhelming you with information.
Bite-size Chapters
Most of us don’t have time (or brainspace) to tackle a dense wall of text after a long day.
The handbook is built around short chapters you can read in one sitting:
- A single topic
- Key ideas and concepts
- Come back later to check out details and links to additional resources.
It’s a choose-your-own-adventure.
- Curious about surge capacity? Start there.
- Worried about pediatric decontamination? Jump to that.
- Wondering what “incident command” looks like? Go straight to the ICS chapter.
Your curiosity guides your learning, not a rigid syllabus.
A Community-Driven Approach
This isn’t a static reference.
The Handbook is designed as a living, community-driven resource.
A few key things about how it’s built:
- Peer-reviewed by subject matter experts
Every chapter is reviewed by at least one subject matter expert for accuracy before it goes live. - Users in the lead
Medical students, healthcare trainees, and other users are not just the audience. They can also author and receive credit for creating chapters. - Join the Conversation
Be part of the community by joining the forum. In the forum, users can interact with one another to discuss ideas, ask questions, recommend revisions or suggest additional topics.
Our knowledge and experience with disasters is evolving. So is this handbook.
A Simple Ask
If any of this resonates with you, here’s what I’d love you to do:
- Visit the Disaster Medicine Handbook.
Click on a topic that catches your eye. - Read one bite-size chapter and share it with a friend.
- Join the forum.
Tell us what was helpful/confusing and suggest a topic you wish existed or even offer to help write it.
No matter your specialty in healthcare, you have a role in disasters. The goal isn’t to turn everyone into a disaster medicine specialist. The goal is to make sure that when the next big event hits, more of us feel prepared to play our part.
Consider this your invitation.
The front door is open.
