Immediate Health Concerns
Darwin's health services, and Darwin hospital in particular, were well prepared for the cyclone. Some months beforehand, "Emergency Procedures", which included a mass casualty plan and the establishment of a cyclone subcommittee, had been written. Cyclone Selma had induced a clean up of the hospital grounds, and on Christmas Eve additional precautions were taken. Normal preparations for the holiday period had included stocking with extra provisions and blood for transfusion. (Gurd et al).
Soon after dawn on Christmas Day casualties began to arrive at the hospital. During the day more than 500 patients were treated at the hospital, and many hundreds more were handled at peripheral first-aid centres. Most of those who reported to the hospital were suffering lacerations (usually caused by flying glass, iron, and other debris), while a few suffered fractures. 112 people were admitted to hospital, most suffering severe lacerations or blunt injuries caused by crushing, missiles, or falls. The two operating theatres were busy from 7.30 AM on Christmas morning until 1.30 AM on Boxing Day. Late on Christmas night two surgical teams arrived by air from Canberra, allowing local teams to be relieved. (Gurd et al).
From Boxing Day a policy of evacuation of hospital cases was implemented. "Large numbers" (Gurd et al) were flown south. Evacuation was ordered in cases where a return to work within two weeks was judged unlikely. From thenceforth the hospital was able to keep its patient numbers as low as possible. Outpatients continued to report, many with injuries sustained to the feet during the searching and clearing of rubble.
On Christmas morning doctors, nurses and others quickly organised first aid posts at the approximately 20 congregation centres which became refuges for the homeless.
From 26 December additional doctors, nurses and health inspectors arrived from the south to help cope with the second phase of the disaster - the care of about 30,000 people crammed into emergency centres and makeshift housing, without water, electricity or sanitation.
From Christmas Day, trench latrines were dug by volunteers using back hoes and front-end loaders. Water supplies were delivered by tankers. Mass immunisation against tetanus and typhoid began. Daily health bulletins were broadcast once radio transmissions recommenced on 26 December - the bulletins were necessary to allay fears which resulted from false rumours of serious disease outbreaks. By 27 December it was judged that the immediate health emergency was under control.
Attention was now turned to broader environmental health issues. The Army was allocated the duty of clearing all rotting contents from freezers and refrigerators in 12,000 homes and many shops and commercial premises. The clearing was carried out within a week, by ten teams each of 20 men.
Refuse dumps worked continuously to receive garbage and debris. Twice weekly aerial spraying of the city with malathion, to control mosquitoes and other insect pests, was begun.
"The combination of measures adopted, powerfully assisted by the mammoth evacuation exercise, resulted in a high standard of environmental control, which, without question, contributed to the virtual absence of disease. (Gurd et al).