The International Activities in Taiwan by the Joint Burn Care Assistance Team of Physicians from Japan Medical Association and Three Medical Societies.

Cross-border medical support activities began with the Committee of Five, the predecessor of the International Committee of the Red Cross, which was established in 1863.1 In Japan, in addition to the Japanese Red Cross Society, the Japan Medical Association Team (JMAT)2,3 is relied on for medical support in disaster-affected areas. JMAT was active in providing aid in the aftermath of the Great East Japan Earthquake, which struck on March 11, 2011. Around 8 pm on June 27, 2015, a dust explosion occurred at a water park called Formosa Fun Coast in New Taipei City, Taiwan, when flammable colored powder used at an event exploded. On June 30, the number of burn patients totaled 498 (ultimately there were 499 patients), of which 398 were hospitalized. Of these, 277 were intensive care patients and the average burn coverage was reported to be 44% of total body surface area. At the request of the Taiwan Medical Association (TMA) and the NGO Taiwan Root Medical Peace Corps (TRMPC), the Japan Medical Association (JMA) dispatched six burn experts recommended by the Japanese Society of Intensive Care Medicine (JSICM), the Japan Association for Acute Medicine (JAAM), and the Japanese Society for Burn Injuries (JSBI). This Joint Burn Care Assistance Team of Physicians by JMA and Three Medical Societies was in Taiwan for the four days from Sunday, July 12 to Wednesday, July 15, 2015 to collaborate with the Taiwanese government, especially Taiwan’s Ministry of Health and Welfare, in assisting with burn treatment. This report discusses the activities of the team in Taiwan.