scholarly journals (A23) Mass Casualty Incident and Terrorist Attack Preparedness of German Hospitals and Physicians Compared to Austria, Switzerland, the USA and a Worldwide Collective

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S1) ◽  
pp. s7-s7
Author(s):  
P. Fischer ◽  
C. Nitsche ◽  
K. Kabir ◽  
A. Wafaisade ◽  
S. Müller ◽  
...  

ContextBecause of worldwide increase of catastrophes and recent terrorist attacks, hospitals and physicians are devoting increased attention to disaster and mass casualty incident (MCI) preparedness not only outside but also inside hospitals. In case of a terrorist attack physicians have to cope with injuries caused by conventional, biological, chemical, or radioactive weapons.ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to evaluate the current state of preparedness of German hospitals and physicians in case of an MCI or terrorist attack and to compare those results to the preparedness of hospitals and physicians from Austria, Switzerland, the United States of America and a worldwide collective.Materials and MethodsUsing an online questionnaire, we interviewed 1343 physicians in Germany, Austria, Switzerland, the US and a worldwide collective. The replies were analyzed statistically with the Shapiro-Walk test and the Mann-Whitney-U test.Resultsin Germany physicians are less prepared than their colleagues worldwide for disasters inside and outside hospitals. 48,4% of German physicians (37% worldwide) did not know their area of responsibility as a physician in case of an “internal” emergency (fire, water pipe burst, power cut), even though 30,2% of German physicians (29,1% worldwide) have already had a real emergency in their hospital. Only 65,3% of physicians in Germany (75,5% worldwide) knew their area of responsibility in case of an MCI; MCI training was given less often in Germany (42,7%) than worldwide (64,3%). Most physicians in every country were unaware of injury patterns and treatment strategies in patients following bombings or nuclear, chemical and biological contamination.ConclusionsHospital Physicians are insufficiently prepared for internal emergencies and MCIs. There is a need for more drills in hospitals. In spite of the recent threat of terrorist attacks, the physicians' emergency training should be modified to accommodate the increased risk of catastrophes and terrorist attacks.

Author(s):  
Ashley Tseung

AbstractSince 9/11, the United States and the international community have emphasized the need to protect people from terrorist attacks. The Boston Bombing that took place on April 15, 2013, showed that even with all of the preventive measures in place, the United States is not immune from terrorist attacks. If there had been a bioterrorist attack in Boston instead of a homemade bomb, the amount of casualties would likely have been a lot higher. Many hospitals lack effective emergency preparedness plans that address bioterrorist attacks. One area that will help prepare nations during a mass casualty incident or public health emergency involves implementing effective mass casualty preparedness plans for hospitals. This paper analyzes mass casualty preparedness in hospitals and demonstrates the need to have legislation in place to protect doctors who treat patients during mass casualty events.


2011 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 129-137 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. Brooke Lerner ◽  
David C. Cone ◽  
Eric S. Weinstein ◽  
Richard B. Schwartz ◽  
Phillip L. Coule ◽  
...  

ABSTRACTMass casualty triage is the process of prioritizing multiple victims when resources are not sufficient to treat everyone immediately. No national guideline for mass casualty triage exists in the United States. The lack of a national guideline has resulted in variability in triage processes, tags, and nomenclature. This variability has the potential to inject confusion and miscommunication into the disaster incident, particularly when multiple jurisdictions are involved. The Model Uniform Core Criteria for Mass Casualty Triage were developed to be a national guideline for mass casualty triage to ensure interoperability and standardization when responding to a mass casualty incident. The Core Criteria consist of 4 categories: general considerations, global sorting, lifesaving interventions, and individual assessment of triage category. The criteria within each of these categories were developed by a workgroup of experts representing national stakeholder organizations who used the best available science and, when necessary, consensus opinion. This article describes how the Model Uniform Core Criteria for Mass Casualty Triage were developed.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2011;5:129-137)


2018 ◽  
Vol 166 (2) ◽  
pp. 72-75 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ross J Craigie ◽  
P J Farrelly ◽  
R Santos ◽  
S R Smith ◽  
J S Pollard ◽  
...  

On 22 May 2017 Salman Abedi detonated an improvised explosive device in the Manchester Arena resulting in 23 deaths (including the attacker). This was the deadliest terrorist attack on UK soil since the 2005 London bombings, but was only one of five mass casualty terrorist attacks in the UK in 2017. Preparation for mass casualty incidents (MCI) is obligatory, involving such methods as multiagency tabletop exercises, mock hospital exercises, as well as simulation and training for clinicians in managing the injuries that would be anticipated in such an event. Even in the best prepared units, such an incident will pose significant challenges due to the unpredictable nature of these events with respect to timing and number of casualties. Following an MCI, local and national reviews are undertaken to assess the effectiveness of the response, but also to identify areas where lessons can be learnt and to disseminate these to allow inclusion in future planning. We present the experience following a mass casualty terrorist incident along with a number of lessons learnt from this event.


2019 ◽  
Vol 96 (2) ◽  
pp. 121-123 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jami S Leichliter ◽  
Patricia J Dittus ◽  
Casey E Copen ◽  
Sevgi O Aral

ObjectivesWithin the context of rising rates of reportable STIs in the USA, we used national survey data to examine temporal trends in high-risk factors that indicate need for STI/HIV preventive services among key subpopulations with disproportionate STI rates.MethodsWe used data from the 2002 (n=12 571), 2006–2010 (n=22 682) and 2011–2015 (n=20 621) National Survey of Family Growth (NSFG). NSFG is a national probability survey of 15–44 year olds living in US households. We examined STI risk factors among sexually active men who have sex with men (MSM) and Hispanic, non-Hispanic black, 15–19 year old, 20–24 year old, and 25–29 year old women who have sex with men (WSM) and men who have sex with women (MSW). Risk behaviours included: received money or drugs for sex, gave money or drugs for sex, partner who injected drugs, partner who has HIV, non-monogamous partner (WSM, MSW only) and male partner who had sex with other men (WSM only). Endorsement of any of these behaviours was recoded into a composite variable focusing on factors indicating increased STI risk (yes/no). We used chi-squares and logistic regression (calculating predicted marginals to estimate adjusted prevalence ratios (aPRs)) to examine STI risk factors over time among the key subpopulations.ResultsFrom 2002 to 2011–2015, reported STI risk factors did not change or declined over time among key subpopulations in the USA. In adjusted analyses comparing 2002 to 2011–2015, we identified significant declines among WSM: Hispanics (aPR=0.84 (0.68–1.04), non-Hispanic blacks (aPR=0.69 (0.58–0.82), adolescents (aPR=0.71 (0.55–0.91) and 25–29 year olds (aPR=0.76 (0.58–0.98); among MSW: Hispanics (aPR=0.53 (0.40–0.70), non-Hispanic blacks (aPR=0.74 (0.59–0.94) and adolescents (aPR=0.63 (0.49–0.82); and among MSM (aPR=0.53 (0.34–0.84).ConclusionsWhile reported STIs have increased, STI risk factors among key subpopulations were stable or declined. Condom use related to these risk factors, sexual mixing patterns and STI testing should be examined.


Disasters ◽  
2007 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 104-112 ◽  
Author(s):  
Erez Karp ◽  
Gilbert Sebbag ◽  
Jochanan Peiser ◽  
Oleg Dukhno ◽  
Amnon Ovnat ◽  
...  

2003 ◽  
Vol 2003 (1) ◽  
pp. 467-470
Author(s):  
Jonathan K. Waldron ◽  
Jeanne M. Grasso

ABSTRACT Everything has changed since the terrorist attacks against the United States on September 11, 2001. With more than 360 ports and 3,700 terminals handling passengers and cargo, the U.S. government quickly realized that the maritime industry was vulnerable and that the apparent gaping hole in our national security must be fixed. Numerous initiatives, including legislative, regulatory, and ad hoc actions, are being implemented to ensure the maritime industry is ready in case it is the “next target.” Concomitant with these efforts, come changes in existing standards and liabilities, including reduced rights and enhanced enforcement. This paper discusses the maritime-related implications of the emerging security regime in the United States post-September 11 including: (1) new and proposed legislation affecting vessel and facility owners and operators, (2) how increased security inspections may be used to enhance enforcement efforts, and (3) how the terrorist attacks have “raised the bar” with regard to owner and operator liability. Pollution preparedness and liability implications are also explored, including changes in liability and response actions resulting from a terrorist attack. Lastly, recommendations on appropriate preventive measures are provided.


2019 ◽  
Vol 34 (s1) ◽  
pp. s111-s111
Author(s):  
Brenna Adelman

Introduction:Disasters are unique in that they impact all socioeconomic, class, and social divides. They are complex, hard to conceptualize and operationally define, and occur sporadically without warning. However, regardless of each disasters innate unpredictability, there is one common need that directly impacts patient morbidity and mortality: effective triage.Aim:Currently the United States has no uniform triage mandate. The purpose of this study is to gather descriptive data on the type of mass-casualty triage currently being utilized by first responders (Emergency Medical Services/Fire/Nurses) and improve our understanding regarding the prevalence of mass casualty triage.Methods:A descriptive mixed methods survey is being distributed to first responders/nurses in the Appalachian region. This survey collects respondents demographics, profession, and MCI triage data. Data will be analyzed and descriptive statistics will be generated. GIS will be utilized to graph findings and visualize local and national trends.Results:Results of this study are pending.Discussion:Organizations have addressed the need for a standard triage protocol, even going so far as to create uniform criteria which each triage system should meet. However, the literature does not describe how individual professions train their members in disaster triage, or what triage is currently being utilized in each profession. Nurses and first-responders serve as linchpins in many communities. They remain in a community, both before, during, and after a mass casualty event, but they do not perform in a vacuum. During an MCI (mass-casualty incident) their scope of practice may vary, but they have common foci: the affected community. A better understanding of the type of MCI triage that each profession is using is vital in understanding how triage is being applied, and vital in identifying gaps in application that may impact the effectiveness of field triage, and affect local and national policy, practice, and future research.


2016 ◽  
Vol 27 (7) ◽  
pp. 2828-2834 ◽  
Author(s):  
Victoria Solveig Young ◽  
Heidi B. Eggesbø ◽  
Christine Gaarder ◽  
Pål Aksel Næss ◽  
Tone Enden

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (4) ◽  
pp. 152-172
Author(s):  
Adrian Hale

‘Dame Edna Everage’, a persona originally created by the Australian comedian Barry Humphries in 1955, is a character designed to simultaneously shock and amuse. Dame Edna voices (and satirizes) the discourse of ‘average’, older, politically conservative Anglo-Australians who feel compelled to ‘tell it like it is’ – no matter how offensive their opinions might be. In the Anglosphere, Edna’s humour is well understood and sustained international success has followed Edna for more than 60 years in Britain, Canada, the US and Australia. However, Edna occasionally misfires. In 2003, for instance, Edna’s satire outraged Latinos across the USA, in fulfillment of Poe’s Law (Aikin, 2009). Simply put, Latinos assumed that Edna’s comments satirising negative mainstream attitudes towards them were expressive of Edna’s authentic racism. This paper investigates the Edna joke in the overall context of failed humour and then specifically for the offensiveness it generated amongst the Latino minority in the United States. It then tests whether this reaction was the result of a discursive frame specific to the US context, by conducting an exploratory study amongst a small sample of highly educated Australian bilingual Latin American immigrants and their adult children, to see whether they thought Edna’s joke was funny. These Australian individuals of Latin American heritage responded via an online questionnaire, and an analysis of their responses is presented here. The study’s main finding is that while these individuals generally demonstrated a high comedic literacy across both English and Spanish, including a prior awareness of Edna’s and Australian humour, they overall rejected the intention and humour of Edna’s joke. This paper asserts that, when it comes to humour, some transnational migrant speech community loyalties transcend other notions of identity and language competence.


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