understand the epidemiology of disasters including types, severity and economic, human and societal impact of these;

understand the factors which determine the differences in both effects of disasters and the response to them;

understand the roles of Governments, NGOs and the military in disaster planning and response and the interaction between these;

understand the principles of disaster planning;

be able to perform both a risk assessment as part of planning and a needs assessment in response to a disaster;

understand the importance of common causes of difficulty in disasters - communication, media, security, logistics;

know the principles of on scene and hospital management including the roles of Emergency Services and challenges of medical care in the disaster environment;

be aware of the ethical, cultural and legal aspects of disaster health care;

be able to apply a generic model to specific disasters and recognise priorities in care;

understand the psychological impact of disasters on individuals, populations and responders;

be able to understand the process for recovery of communities and nations and the transition of responsibility;

understand the differences between disasters and disaster responses in developed and developing countries;

be aware of the available resources and standards that may be of use in disaster health management.