Medical professionals will have to face three major challenges in treating quake victims - physical trauma, post-disaster psychological shock and other disaster-related illnesses, said Darren Yang, medical director with emergency aid group International SOS Clinic.

"There will be a lot of physical trauma to deal with, such as wounds and fractures," Yang said.

"Patients of this category will be treated according to triage, which divides between problems that need immediate attention, those that are serious but not fatal, and those that are painful but not deadly."

Hundreds of thousands of people are feared dead with many more injured after a 7.8-magnitude quake hit Sichuan province on Monday afternoon.

Starting from Monday, International SOS, which specializes in emergency rescue and repatriation services, has been receiving calls from its Chinese and foreign customers in Sichuan, asking for medical evacuation and help with safety issues, said Eliza Kwok, managing director of International SOS China.

The group sent a four-member team, including a doctor, a nurse and two operation specialists, to Chengdu last evening. And six more rescuers will be sent in the following days.

Lin Peng, deputy director with the orthopedics department at the China-Japan Friendship Hospital, said that the initial medical work will involve plenty of temporary disposals, such as bandaging, blood stopping, and infection prevention.

Many survivors will need to be sent to hospitals. Those who are suspected to be suffering from neck and spine injuries, or bone fractures, will need to have their injuries stabilized before moving.

An important part of medical professionals work in Sichuan will be the prevention of epidemics, said Xu Qian, director at the infectious disease department of the China-Japan Friendship Hospital.

"The earthquake will damage the area's water pipes and expose them to contamination," she said.

"Meanwhile, people will have to sleep outdoors. The food quality and sanitation level will decrease, which will lower their immunity."

Besides medical services, doctors will also have to help disinfect drinking water and prevent possible epidemics caused by pollution.

At a later phase, psychologists will need to help those who lose their families and those who are disabled by the disaster, Yang said.

(China Daily 05/14/2008 page4)