At the large-scale natural disasters (floods, devastating earthquake, storms, epidemics of infectious diseases and other cases), the affected community is faced with the so-called emergency situations. Emergency situations arise when there are (usually suddenly) the disproportions between the needs of the group of people and ability to manage that needs at the affected area (Macarol-Hiti, 2000). Organization of work in this circumstances is the most essential component of the protection and rescue. It ensures simultaneous and efficient work of various departments. Of course, in order to, as far as possible, minimize the consequences of each accident, and especially to prevent or minimize human casualties (Poor, 2006). From the sanitary point of view it is necessary in an emergency, especially when it is required the relocation of people from vulnerable places, to implement technical and hygiene measures such as:
- arranging temporary housing,
- the supply of drinking water,
- ensure the conditions for the implementation of personal hygiene,
- compliance with hygiene requirements in the supply of food and food preparation,
- disposal of waste in temporary housing settlements,
- disinfection, disinfestation, rodent extermination, decontamination,
- monitoring the implementation of the provisional measures (Jevšnik, Slabe, Bauer, 2012).
The fact that a sanitary engineer with his knowledge, skills and mindset can make an important contribution to the management of emergency situations, the frequency of such emergencies and the current participation of sanitary engineers in this situations are the reason for the this section.
