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Epidemiologists'
attempts to locate victims (case finding) in the wake of a tornado can be
greatly facilitated by their working with county health officials, local
hospitals, law enforcement agencies, the American Red Cross and disaster
management officials. Several sources of data on tornado-related injuries
may be available. Local emergency medical service (EMS) officials may have
information on ambulance transport and field medical activities. Patient
records from physician offices, hospital emergency departments, and medical
records departments may be an excellent source of injury data. County
medical examiners, coroners, law enforcement officials, and the media may
also provide additional information on tornado-related deaths. Local census
information can be extremely useful in developing an estimate of the size of
the affected population.
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