In disasters, every available physician and lay person alike is called upon to render help. Disaster medicine is a most demanding field because of its multidisciplinary nature. Specialties like anesthesia, general surgery, internal medicine, pediatrics, opthalmology, orthopedics, otorhinolaryngology, bacteriology, thoracic and vascular surgery, toxicology, radiology, and others are each separately and directly involved. Without specialized knowledge, no one physician is able to cope with all problems that may arise. Therefore, disaster management planning calls for adequate training and organizational preparations, with plans for the whole spectrum of possible catastrophes from man-made and natural disasters (e.g., floods, avalanches, fire, war, terrorism attacks; air, rail and high-way accidents; chemical catastrophes, irradiation, and radioactive fallout).