The intention is, however, that everyone who will be involved in supporting or helping disaster victims will be able to find guidelines for their activities. It is hoped that the advice will also offer guidance to those public authorities that have a special overall or organizational responsibility. Such work comprises investigation, treatment and preventive measures. Planning must include all groups affected directly as well as indirectly. Psychologically and psychiatrically, the disaster concept has a wider significance than it has in the traditional sense of disaster medicine.
Victims often obtain the most imporant support from their usual social network.
However, particularly in major accidents and disasters, this needs to be supplemented with special support and help measures. Such activities must be based on information from different, complementary areas of knowledge. For this reason, representatives of the different areas should be involved in disaster planning. Ethical considerations must be included in disaster planning. The special needs of different ethnic groups must be met and adequate interpretation services provided.