Responding to a Mass Shooting

This chapter documents ways to respond to and recover from a mass shooting situation. Response is two-fold in nature: dealing with a scenario when it unfolds and reuniting the affected population with their families once the crisis has been resolved. The chapter then moves on to look at ways to recover from a mass shooting to repair the long-term damage caused. Recovery centers on dealing with the psychological impact on the affected community, physical damage caused, and the reputational damage on the organization. Another part of recovery is learning lessons from previous mass shootings. Captured throughout this chapter are the recommendations from emergency management experts, citing their knowledge and experience in dealing with active shooter incidents and other types of crises.

This chapter discusses ways to prepare for a mass shooting incident. In terms of planning, these types of incidents are referred to as “active shooter situations” in which a shooting is unfolding and the outcome can potentially be affected by the responses to it. Discussed here are the drafting of emergency management plans and which factors should be considered in the planning process. The chapter then moves onto look at the use of drills and other exercises to help prepare for mass shootings. The views of emergency management experts and activists campaigning against active shooter drills are captured. This paves the way for the next chapter, which discusses how to respond and recover from a mass shooting incident.


2019 ◽  
Vol 6 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Marisa Booty ◽  
Jayne O’Dwyer ◽  
Daniel Webster ◽  
Alex McCourt ◽  
Cassandra Crifasi

Abstract Background The mass shooting phenomenon has gained much attention lately as this form of gun violence appears to increase in frequency. Although many organizations collect information on mass shootings (fatal and nonfatal injuries), no federal definition of this phrase exists. The purpose of this study was to highlight the different statistics that result among databases that define and track “mass shootings.” Establishing definitive guidelines for a mass shooting definition could improve research credibility when presenting evidence to policy makers. Methods We obtained data for mass shootings that occurred in 2017 from four sources: Gun Violence Archive, Mother Jones Investigation, Everytown for Gun Safety, and FBI’s Supplemental Homicide Report. We also examined FBI’s Active Shooter Report to compare the mass shootings datasets with active shooter situations, which have been federally defined. First, we examined the overlap among databases. Then, we applied the strictest fatal mass shooting definition to the mass shooting datasets to determine whether the differences in databases could be contributing to differences in fatalities and injuries recorded. Results Gun Violence Archive recorded the most mass shooting incidents at 346 incidents in 2017, while Mother Jones only recorded 11 cases. Only 2 events were found in all four mass shooting datasets. When the strictest definition – four or more individuals fatally shot – was applied to all datasets, the number of mass shootings in 2017 ranged from 24 (Gun Violence Archive) to 5 (Mother Jones), but incidents collected still varied. Conclusions There is much variety in statistics obtained from the different sources that have collected mass shooting information, with little overlap among databases. Researchers should advocate for a standard definition that considers both fatalities and nonfatalities to most appropriately convey the burden of mass shootings on gun violence.


Author(s):  
Anders Håkansson ◽  
Karin Moesch ◽  
Caroline Jönsson ◽  
Göran Kenttä

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has had a significant impact on the world of sports due to periods of home quarantine, bans against public gatherings, travel restrictions, and a large number of postponed or canceled major sporting events. The literature hitherto is sparse, but early indications display signs of psychological impact on elite athletes due to the pandemic. However, beyond acute effects from lockdown and short-term interrupted athletic seasons, the postponed and still uncertain Olympic and Paralympic Games may represent a major career insecurity to many athletes world-wide, and may lead to severe changes to everyday lives and potentially prolonged psychological distress. Given the long-term perspective of these changes, researchers and stakeholders should address mental health and long-term job insecurity in athletes, including a specific focus on those with small financial margins, such as many female athletes, parasports athletes, athletes in smaller sports, and athletes from developing countries. Implications and the need for research are discussed.


Cancers ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (12) ◽  
pp. 2942
Author(s):  
Tamara Mc Erlain ◽  
Aileen Burke ◽  
Cristina M. Branco

To prevent cancer cells replacing and outnumbering their functional somatic counterparts, the most effective solution is their removal. Classical treatments rely on surgical excision, chemical or physical damage to the cancer cells by conventional interventions such as chemo- and radiotherapy, to eliminate or reduce tumour burden. Cancer treatment has in the last two decades seen the advent of increasingly sophisticated therapeutic regimens aimed at selectively targeting cancer cells whilst sparing the remaining cells from severe loss of viability or function. These include small molecule inhibitors, monoclonal antibodies and a myriad of compounds that affect metabolism, angiogenesis or immunotherapy. Our increased knowledge of specific cancer types, stratified diagnoses, genetic and molecular profiling, and more refined treatment practices have improved overall survival in a significant number of patients. Increased survival, however, has also increased the incidence of associated challenges of chemotherapy-induced morbidity, with some pathologies developing several years after termination of treatment. Long-term care of cancer survivors must therefore become a focus in itself, such that along with prolonging life expectancy, treatments allow for improved quality of life.


2014 ◽  
Vol 26 (4) ◽  
pp. 734-751
Author(s):  
Robert C. Moyer

The aim of this article is to examine the social and psychological impact of modern maritime disasters upon the population of a technologically developed nation. Through an innovative research approach using various indirect measurements of public interest including the internet, media response, music and film, the article explores the interest displayed by the American public following the loss of ships such as the Titanic, Andrea Doria, Edmund Fitzgerald, and Andrea Gail. In order to provide a basis for qualitative comparison, disasters involving other modes of transportation are also considered, including the Hindenburg crash, the ‘Great Train Wreck of 1918’ in Nashville, TN, the Tenerife air disaster of 1977, and the Concorde crash of 2000. The article seeks to explain why the American public seems to display more short-term and long-term interest in maritime disasters than in disasters involving other forms of transportation.


2021 ◽  
Vol 36 (Supplement_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Anupma Kaul ◽  
Manas Behera

Abstract Background and Aims Living kidney donation is a very complex psychological experience for donor candidates as well as the recipients improving self-esteem and donor-recipient relationships on one hand while may add on to emotional stresses increasing psychic vulnerability and predisposition to the development of mental disorder. The present study aimed to look into psychosocial outcome among donor characteristics and quantification of the psychological impact of kidney donation. Method This was a retrospective random study conducted among 506 renal transplant donors from 2010 till 2018 at Department of nephrology and transplantation at a tertiary care centre in northern part of India. Results Majority of donors were females ie mothers (38.1%) and wife (35.5%). A total of 18.6% developed one or more co morbid illness following transplantation. Most of the donors (98.9%) were motivated by affection and love for the recipient and out of them (89.1%) felt that there were the first choice among the available donors. A majority of them (94.5%) felt that donation had positively affected their relationship and were respected. These donors showed lesser degree of both depressive and anxiety (HAD score 3.5) and depressive score (BDI II 4.8). Donation had upgraded the stature of the donor in the family and recipient which proved statically significant predictor on donor related outcome. Donors well being was dependant on recepients wellbeing and 20% of the donors felt or were made to feel the guilt of the graft failure or a poor outcome. Conclusion The study showed a positive acknowledgement for the donors from the recipients and society thus giving a meaning to life Need of the hours is greater post donation monitoring as well as due recognition among donors which can improve long term donor outcomes.


2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (3) ◽  
pp. 205316801879406 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mark R. Joslyn ◽  
Donald P. Haider-Markel

In this article, we examine the effects of individual anxiety after the 2016 Orlando, Florida, mass shooting, which killed 49 people and wounded 58 others. Similar to prior research on the influence of anxiety, after the Orlando shooting anxious citizens supported policies and institutions perceived as protective and capable of minimizing future risks. In addition, anxiety counteracted ideology. Anxious citizens largely abandoned ideological processing, which resulted in a sharp reduction of differences between liberals and conservatives on essential beliefs and preferences associated with mass shootings. However, the degree of ideological abandonment turned on the alignment of ideology and anxiety. When anxiety about the Orlando shooting encouraged support for policies inconsistent with ideological preferences, the influence of ideology on subsequent preferences diminished notably. Conversely, when anxiety prompted support for policies consistent with ideological preferences, anxiety reinforced those preferences. The identification of ideological abandonment after Orlando, and the asymmetric influence of anxiety on political attitudes across ideology, are important contributions to theories of emotion and for research on tragic events.


2014 ◽  
Vol 86 (4) ◽  
pp. 359 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nicola Pavan ◽  
Giorgia Tezzot ◽  
Giovanni Liguori ◽  
Renata Napoli ◽  
Paolo Umari ◽  
...  

Objectives: To review the cases of patients with suspected penile fracture and asses erectile and sexological outcomes. Materials and methods: from 1987 to 2013 presented to the Urology Clinic of Trieste and at the AIED of Pordenone a total of 41 cases that were divided into two groups according to the timing of treatment: 18 patients with anamnestic diagnosis of penile fracture treated nonimmediately and 23 patients treated immediately after the trauma. For all patients we evaluated the type of treatment adopted, the occurrence of complications and reoperations and the follow-up. The erectile function was also evaluated through the IIEF, as well as the psychological impact of the trauma on social and sex life, using a psycho- sexological questionnaire. Results: Among patients treated immediately after the trauma 14 were subjected to surgery. About a year after surgery, penile curvature was reported in 1 patient, pain in 3 patients, urinary disorders in 1 patient, while none reported erectile dysfunction (ED). Out of these, only 3 patients underwent reoperation. Among those treated conservatively 1 patient reported curvature, 1 patient reported pain and none reported ED. Among patients who were admitted at a later date, 14 reported curvature and 4 reported pain whereas urinary disorders were reported in 1 and ED in 4 patients. From a psychological point of view, the trauma caused in most cases a fear of new trauma and of repercussions on erectile function and sensitivity. Conclusions: The diagnosis is mainly clinical; however, radiological investigation is essential to confirm the diagnosis, assess the site and extent of the trauma and possible urethral involvement, so as to plan the most appropriate treatment. In addition, immediate treatment leads to better long-term results, with a lower incidence of ED and penile curvature. Psychologically, penile trauma intensifies the fear of reoccurrence; it decreases, however, with the passage of time.


PLoS ONE ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (5) ◽  
pp. e0251641
Author(s):  
Sumbal Shahbaz ◽  
Muhammad Zeshan Ashraf ◽  
Rubeena Zakar ◽  
Florian Fischer ◽  
Muhammad Zakria Zakar

Limited evidence exists to help understand the experiences of university students in relation to the long-term lockdown due to the COVID-19 pandemic. For that reason, we conducted a study using a phenomenographic approach in order to understand how university students perceive COVID-19 and the associated lockdown. Data were collected from 25 students in Pakistan. They were asked to demonstrate the psychological effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown in illustrations. In addition, in-depth interviews were conducted with these students, to gain further insights into their perspectives on the psychosocial effects of the COVID-19 pandemic. The analysis revealed four interlinked directions for understanding students’ experiences. These themes were: 1) escape into peace, 2) hope for personal freedom, 3) fear of becoming a victim of COVID-19, and 4) concerns regarding education, future career, and opportunities. All four themes were analyzed and condensed into an outcome space, which further gathers the perceptions of students under one theme as “Hope for life while paradoxically living with fear”. Studying the psychological impact of the COVID-19 pandemic and lockdown on students not only highlighted their concerns, but also emphasized the importance of starting regular psychological evaluations and stress-releasing sessions, along with online education to overcome growing depression.


Author(s):  
HA Crouch-Smith ◽  
KJ Fenn ◽  
SP Williams

From the emergency management of acute epistaxis to the surgical procedures for chronic epistaxis, this article covers the options available to control the archetypal symptom of hereditary haemorrhagic telangiectasia while exploring the psychological effect such a disease has on the patient.


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