Lessons learned from a landslide catastrophe in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

2013 ◽  
Vol 8 (4) ◽  
pp. 253-258 ◽  
Author(s):  
Bruno Monteiro Tavares Pereira, MD, MSc ◽  
Wellington Morales, MD ◽  
Ricardo Galesso Cardoso, MD ◽  
Rossano Fiorelli, MD, PhD ◽  
Gustavo Pereira Fraga, MD, PhD ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rio De Janeiro ◽  
Fire Department ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Medical Examiner ◽  
Hospital Organization ◽  
Mountain Area ◽  
Mass Casualty Event ◽  
Short Period ◽  
Future Events

Introduction: On January, 2011, a devastating tropical storm hit the mountain area of Rio de Janeiro State in Brazil, resulting in flooding and mudslides and leaving 30,000 individuals displaced.Objective: This article explores key lessons learned from this major mass casualty event, highlighting prehospital and hospital organization for receiving multiple victims in a short period of time, which may be applicable in similar future events worldwide.Methods: A retrospective review of local hospital medical/fire department records and data from the Health and Security Department of the State were analyzed. Medical examiner archives were analyzed to determine the causes of death.Results: The most common injuries were to the extremities, the majority requiring only wound cleaning, debridement, and suture. Orthopedic surgeries were the most common operative procedures. In the first 3 days, 191 victims underwent triage at the hospital with 50 requiring admission to the hospital. Two hundred fifty patients were triaged at the hospital by the end of the fifth day.The mortis cause for the majority of deaths was asphyxia, either by drowning or mud burial.Conclusion: Natural disasters are able to generate a large number of victims and overwhelm the main channels of relief available. Main lessons learned are as follows: 1) prevention and training are key points, 2) key measures by the authorities should be taken as early as possible, and 3) the centralization of the deceased in one location demonstrated greater effectiveness identifying victims and releasing the bodies back to families.

scholarly journals Aurora Bridge Bus Crash Review of a Mass Casualty Event Pre-hospital and Hospital Response, Lessons Learned

2017 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 62-65
Author(s):  
Stephen C. Morris ◽  
◽  
Joshua Jauregui ◽  
Andrew M. McCoy ◽  
Steven H. Mitchell ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Mass Casualty Event ◽  
Hospital Response

scholarly journals Mass casualty events: what to do as the dust settles?

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. e000210 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel M Russo ◽  
Joseph M Galante ◽  
John B Holcomb ◽  
Warren Dorlac ◽  
Jason Brocker ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Panel Discussion ◽  
Trauma Team ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Detention Center ◽  
Plane Crash ◽  
Mass Casualty Events ◽  
Boston Marathon Bombing ◽  
Mass Casualty Event ◽  
Boston Marathon

Care during mass casualty events (MCE) has improved during the last 15 years. Military and civilian collaboration has led to partnerships which augment the response to MCE. Much has been written about strategies to deliver care during an MCE, but there is little about how to transition back to normal operations after an event. A panel discussion entitled The Day(s) After: Lessons Learned from Trauma Team Management in the Aftermath of an Unexpected Mass Casualty Event at the 76th Annual American Association for the Surgery of Trauma meeting on September 13, 2017 brought together a cadre of military and civilian surgeons with experience in MCEs. The events described were the First Battle of Mogadishu (1993), the Second Battle of Fallujah (2004), the Bagram Detention Center Rocket Attack (2014), the Boston Marathon Bombing (2013), the Asiana Flight 214 Plane Crash (2013), the Baltimore Riots (2015), and the Orlando Pulse Night Club Shooting (2016). This article focuses on the lessons learned from military and civilian surgeons in the days after MCEs.

scholarly journals (P1-19) Disaster Medical System in APEC Japan 2010

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S1) ◽  
pp. s105-s105 ◽  
Author(s):  
H. Kondo
Keyword(s):  
Fire Department ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Medical System ◽  
Political Event ◽  
Contingency Plan ◽  
Mass Casualty Event ◽  
Big City ◽  
Set Up ◽  
Medical Relief ◽  
Transportation Plan

Background and MethodThe preparedness for mass casualty is needed in political event. We have the experience to build up the disaster medical system in G8 summit in Okinawa and Hokkaido. But these two areas were resort area which had little population. This time Japan hosted APEC JAPAN 2010 which held in Yokohama City. We reported disaster medical system for this event in big city.ResultWe mobilized DMAT from 21 hospitals whole Japan. We set 11 teams in Yokohama city, 10 teams in 2 Airports. DMAT inspected rerated disaster base hospitals. These hospitals made the plan for receive mass casualty included the victims by CBRNE event and had the exercise. They set up the decontamination system during APEC leader's week. We also have the contingency plan to coordinate with fire department. This contingency plan included transportation plan for hospitals and coordination plan in site. In transportation plan, sever casualty transported dispersal for hospital in Yokohama within 25. For over 25, sever casualty transported intensive for 4 hospitals in Yokohama. After stabilization treatment in these hospitals, the casualty transported dispersal from these hospitals to outside of Yokohama. In coordinate plan in site included job description in command and control, decontamination and medical relief post.DiscussionWe established disaster medical system for APEC JAPAN 2010. This event hold in Yokohama City had the big population. Compare with former G8 summit, medical system put importance in mass casualty event. As a result, non mass casualty event happened. But this preparedness will contribute not only future same kind events but also accidental mass casualty event such as train accident.

Medical Response to the Tianjin Explosions: Lessons Learned

2017 ◽  
Vol 12 (3) ◽  
pp. 411-414 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jin-Jun Zhang ◽  
Tian-Bing Wang ◽  
Da Fan ◽  
Jun Zhang ◽  
Bao-Guo Jiang
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Early Stage ◽  
Prehospital Care ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Medical Response ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Mass Casualty Event ◽  
The Government

AbstractBackgroundOn August 12, 2015, a hazardous chemical explosion occurred in the Tianjin Port of China. The explosions resulted in 165 deaths, 8 missing people, injuries to thousands of people. We present the responses of emergency medical services and hospitals to the explosions and summarize the lessons that can be learned.MethodsThis study was a retrospective analysis of the responses of emergency medical services and hospitals to the Tianjin explosions. Data on injuries, outcomes, and patient flow were obtained from the government and the hospitals.ResultsA total of 46 ambulances and 143 prehospital care professionals were dispatched to the scene, and 198 wounded were transferred to hospitals by ambulance. More than 4000 wounded casualties surged into hospitals, and 798 wounded were admitted. Both emergency medical services and hospitals were quick and successful in the early stage of the explosions. The strategy of 4 centralizations (4Cs) for medical services management in a mass casualty event was successfully applied.ConclusionsThe risk of accidental events has increased in recent years. We should take advantage of the lessons learned from the explosions and apply these in future disasters. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2018; 12: 411–414)

Combat Social Work at Forward Operating Base Mehtar Lam, Afghanistan

2020 ◽  
pp. 276-300
Author(s):  
Dan M. Grinstead
Keyword(s):  
Social Work ◽  
Military Service ◽  
Critical Incident ◽  
National Guard ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
60Th Birthday ◽  
Army National Guard ◽  
Mass Casualty Event ◽  
Forward Operating Base

This chapter includes a description of the author’s training and experience in the Iowa Army National Guard that prepared him for his deployment to Afghanistan. The author explains: How, at age 57, he decided to join the Iowa Army National Guard, with the goal of doing something about the huge problem: increasing numbers of military service related suicides. He discusses his experience of going through the Officer’s Basic Leadership Course to celebrating his 60th birthday but shortly afterwards he was sent to Afghanistan. He describes his year there as providing combat social work services in a setting where at any time, you could be subject to a rocket or motor attack. Among the challenges leading to lessons learned was establishing trust among his clients. All were reluctant to talk with a “shrink.” An especially moving section of his chapter was about conducting a critical incident debriefing after a mass casualty event.

A systematic review and analysis of learning from major incidents and mass casualty events over the last five years

2019 ◽  
Vol 105 (3) ◽  
pp. 185-190
Author(s):  
A Phailly ◽  
D King ◽  
M Khan
Keyword(s):  
Systematic Review ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Lessons Learned ◽  
Mass Casualty Events ◽  
Major Incidents ◽  
Future Events

AbstractThe dawn of the 21st century has seen a dramatic increase of mass casualty events internationally, with a number of aetiologies. The key with any healthcare evolution is to identify whether lessons learned are being implemented to help to mitigate future events. This article will explore the lessons learned from mass casualty events over the last five years.

scholarly journals (A233) Preparedness For A Mega Mass-Casualty Event (MMCE)

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S1) ◽  
pp. s63-s64
Author(s):  
A. Blumenfeld
Keyword(s):  
Large Scale ◽  
Emergency Services ◽  
Command And Control ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Clinical Aspects ◽  
Recent Experience ◽  
Mass Casualty Event ◽  
Future Events ◽  
National Headquarters ◽  
And Control

A Mega Mass-Casualty Event (MMCE) is a unique and exceptional event, that results in a very large number of casualties (500–5000) needing emergency care in the prehospital and hospital settings. This type of event usually goes beyond the capabilities of a certain region and requires reinforcement of resources from adjacent and remote regions. Due to its exceptional nature, a MMCE dictates a different organization of all emergency services and agencies involved. As a result of the recent experience, and in order to adequately prepare for such future events, a novel MMCE doctrine was developed by a committee of diverse emergency professionals. This doctrine was transferred to guidelines referring to MMCE recognition and the following series of actions that need to taken at all levels. It holds organizational, operational, and clinical aspects, as well as command and control elements. In November 2009, a large-scale drill of 1,000 mock casualties was performed in order to validate and evaluate the MMCE plan. This drill emphasized the need for the involvement of all pertinent emergency services and agencies, and their optimal collaboration and coordination, subjected to regional and national headquarters' command and control. In addition, the need for dedicated educational programs and o-going training was recognized. It was accepted that adequate planning is obligatory for better outcomes in the future.

Tympanic Membrane Rupture in the Survivors of the July 7, 2005, London Bombings

2011 ◽  
Vol 145 (5) ◽  
pp. 806-812 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peter Radford ◽  
Hasu D. L. Patel ◽  
Nicholas Hamilton ◽  
Mark Collins ◽  
Steven Dryden
Keyword(s):  
Tympanic Membrane ◽  
Blast Injury ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Blast Injuries ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Primary Blast ◽  
Membrane Rupture ◽  
Mass Casualty Event ◽  
Short Period ◽  
London Bombings

Objective. The goal of this study was to analyze the prevalence of tympanic membrane rupture in the survivors of the London bombings of July 2005 and to assess whether tympanic membrane rupture provides a useful biomarker for underlying primary blast injuries. Study Design. Cross-sectional study. Subjects and Methods. Survivors of the 4 blasts of London bombings on July 7, 2005. Data were gathered from medical records and the London’s Metropolitan Police evidence documenting the injuries sustained by 143 survivors of the blasts. All patients with tympanic membrane rupture or primary blast injury were indentified. Analysis was made of distance against prevalence of tympanic membrane rupture. Correlation between tympanic membrane rupture and other forms of primary blast injury was then assessed. Results. Results from the 143 survivors showed a 48% prevalence of tympanic membrane rupture across all 4 sites. Fifty-one patients had isolated tympanic membrane rupture with no other primary blast injuries. Eleven patients had tympanic membrane rupture and other primary blast injuries, but only one of these was an initially concealed injury (blast lung). Conclusions. Tympanic membrane rupture in survivors of the London bombings on July 7, 2005, had a high prevalence affecting half of patients across a range of distances from the blasts. Tympanic membrane did not act as an effective biomarker of underlying blast lung. In a mass casualty event, patients with isolated tympanic membrane rupture with normal observations and chest radiography can be monitored for a short period and safely discharged with arrangement for ear, nose, and throat follow-up.

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