A case study of the law enforcement/emergency medical services response to the Virginia Tech mass casualty incident on April 16, 2007

2007 ◽  
Vol 5 (5) ◽  
pp. 17
Author(s):  
Matthew Lloyd Collins, PhD
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Virginia Tech ◽  
Mass Casualty Incident ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Law Enforcement Agencies ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Management Literature

The April 16, 2007, shooting rampage on the Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University (Virginia Tech) campus, carried out by Seung-Hui Cho, was the worst gun-related massacre in the history of the United States. The purpose of this article is twofold. First, it examines the emergency management literature on interagency communication, collaboration, and coordination as it relates to the Virginia Tech mass casualty incident (MCI). Second, the article presents a single instrumental case study that focuses on the bounded case of the Virginia Tech MCI. Through multiple sources of data collection to include observations, interviews, and document analysis, this study found that 14 law enforcement agencies and 13 emergency medical services agencies responded to the Virginia Tech MCI. With only two exceptions, the law enforcement agencies involved in the response to this MCI responded informally or self-deployed (arrived without being dispatched). However, all of the emergency medical services agencies that responded were formally dispatched. Lessons learned from the emergency management literature review and the case study will be discussed. In conclusion, policy recommendations, which will be generalizable to other rural university campuses and rural organizational settings, will be made.

The Role of Emergency Medical Services in Earthquake Response: Integrating the ABC Approach of Israel’s Magen David Adom

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Eli Jaffe ◽  
Yehuda Skornik ◽  
Joseph Offenbacher ◽  
Evan Avraham Alpert
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Mass Casualty Incident ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Vital Role ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Earthquake Response ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Salaried Workers ◽  
Surrounding Areas

ABSTRACT Throughout history, earthquakes have caused devastation and loss of life. Emergency medical services (EMS) plays a vital role in the response to any mass-casualty incident or disaster. Magen David Adom, Israel’s premier EMS organization, has a unique strategy known as the ABC approach to earthquake response. It involves thousands of salaried workers and trained volunteers who are prepared to respond to an earthquake based on the extent of the disaster. Depending on the amount of destruction, they will be working locally or available to help in other areas. A Level A earthquake causes local destruction and minimal casualties. Any EMS responders in that area as well as in surrounding areas will be available to help. Furthermore, all responders will need to work automatically and autonomously. A Level B earthquake causes extensive destruction, and all responders in the region will be busy caring for the victims. Anyone available outside of the region will come and help. A Level C earthquake is completely devastating, and all workers nationwide will be involved in responding to the catastrophe. The role of EMS responders using the ABC approach to earthquake response, as described here, may be integrated in part or whole in other EMS systems.

Optical Head-Mounted Displays in Mass Casualty Incidents

2015 ◽  
Vol 7 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-15 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henrik Berndt ◽  
Tilo Mentler ◽  
Michael Herczeg
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Interaction Design ◽  
Crisis Response ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Mass Casualty Incidents ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Optical Head ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Head Mounted Displays ◽  
Free Interaction

Optical head-mounted displays (OHMDs) could support members of emergency medical services in responding to and managing mass casualty incidents. In this contribution, the authors describe the human-centered design of two applications for supporting the triage process as well as the identification of hazardous materials. They were evaluated with members of emergency medical services and civil protection units. In this regard, challenges and approaches to human-computer interaction with OHMDs in crisis response and management are discussed. The conclusion is drawn that often mentioned advantages of OHMDs like hands-free interaction alone will not lead to usable solutions for safety-critical domains. Interaction design needs to be carefully considered right down to the last detail.

Emergency Medical Services Experience With Barb Removal After Taser Use By Law Enforcement: A Descriptive National Study

2018 ◽  
Vol 34 (1) ◽  
pp. 38-45
Author(s):  
Mazen El Sayed ◽  
Chady El Tawil ◽  
Hani Tamim ◽  
Aurelie Mailhac ◽  
N. Clay Mann
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Life Support ◽  
Salt Lake ◽  
Traumatic Injury ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
National Study ◽  
Publication Type ◽  
Excessive Heat ◽  
Emergency Medical

AbstractBackgroundConducted electrical weapons (CEWs), including Thomas A. Swift Electric Rifles (TASERs), are increasingly used by law enforcement officers (LEOs) in the US and world-wide. Little is known about the experience of Emergency Medical Service (EMS) providers with these incidents.ObjectivesThis study describes EMS encounters with documented TASER use and barb removal, characteristics of resulting injuries, and treatment provided.MethodsThis retrospective study used five combined, consecutive National Emergency Medical Services Information System (NEMSIS; Salt Lake City, Utah USA) public-release datasets (2011-2015). All EMS activations with documented TASER barb removal were included. Descriptive analyses were carried out.ResultsThe study included 648 EMS activations with documented TASER barb removal, yielding a prevalence rate of 4.55 per 1,000,000 EMS activations. Patients had a mean age of 35.9 years (SD=18.2). The majority were males (80.2%) and mainly white (71.3%). Included EMS activations were mostly in urban or suburban areas (78.3%). Over one-half received Advanced Life Support (ALS)-level of service (58.2%). The most common chief complaint reported by dispatch were burns (29.9%), followed by traumatic injury (16.1%). Patients had pain (45.6%) or wound (17.2%) as a primary symptom, with most having possible injury (77.8%). Reported causes of injury were mainly fire and flames (29.8%) or excessive heat (16.7%). The provider’s primary impressions were traumatic injury (66.3%) and behavioral/psychiatric disorder (16.8%). Only one cardiac arrest (0.2%) was reported. Over one-half of activations resulted in patient transports (56.3%), mainly to a hospital (91.2%). These encounters required routine EMS care (procedures and medications). An increase in the prevalence of EMS activations with documented TASER barb removal over the study period was not significant (P=.27).ConclusionAt present, EMS activations with documented TASER barb removal are rare. Routine care by EMS is expected, and life-threatening emergencies are not common. All EMS providers should be familiar with local policies and procedures related to TASER use and barb removal.El SayedM, El TawilC, TamimH, MailhacA, MannNC. Emergency Medical Services experience with barb removal after TASER use by law enforcement: a descriptive national study. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2019;34(1):38–45.

Emergency Medical Services Response to Active Shooter Incidents: Provider Comfort Level and Attitudes Before and After Participation in a Focused Response Training Program

2014 ◽  
Vol 29 (4) ◽  
pp. 350-357 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jerrilyn Jones ◽  
Ricky Kue ◽  
Patricia Mitchell ◽  
Sgt. Gary Eblan ◽  
K. Sophia Dyer
Keyword(s):  
Law Enforcement ◽  
Medical Care ◽  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Training Program ◽  
Comfort Level ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Active Shooter ◽  
Response Training ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Before And After

AbstractIntroductionEmergency Medical Services (EMS) routinely stage in a secure area in response to active shooter incidents until the scene is declared safe by law enforcement. Due to the time-sensitive nature of injuries at these incidents, some EMS systems have adopted response tactics utilizing law enforcement protection to expedite life-saving medical care.ObjectiveDescribe EMS provider perceptions of preparedness, adequacy of training, and general attitudes toward active shooter incident response after completing a tactical awareness training program.MethodsAn unmatched, anonymous, closed-format survey utilizing a five-point Likert scale was distributed to participating EMS providers before and after a focused training session on joint EMS/police active shooter rescue team response. Descriptive statistics were used to compare survey results. Secondary analysis of responses based on prior military or tactical medicine training was performed using a chi-squared analysis.ResultsTwo hundred fifty-six providers participated with 88% (225/256) pretraining and 88% (224/256) post-training surveys completed. Post-training, provider agreement that they felt adequately prepared to respond to an active shooter incident changed from 41% (92/225) to 89% (199/224), while agreement they felt adequately trained to provide medical care during an active shooter incident changed from 36% (82/225) to 87% (194/224). Post-training provider agreement that they should never enter a building with an active shooter changed from 73% (165/225) to 61% (137/224). Among the pretraining surveys, significantly more providers without prior military or tactical experience agreed they should never enter a building with an active shooter until the scene was declared safe (78% vs 50%, P = .002), while significantly more providers with prior experience felt both adequately trained to provide medical care in an active shooter environment (56% vs 31%, P = .007) and comfortable working jointly with law enforcement within a building if a shooter were still inside (76% vs 56%, P = .014). There was no difference in response to these questions in the post-training survey.ConclusionsAttitudes and perceptions regarding EMS active shooter incident response appear to change among providers after participation in a focused active shooter response training program. Further studies are needed to determine if these changes are significant and whether early EMS response during an active shooter incident improves patient outcomes.JonesJ, KueR, MitchellP, EblanG, DyerKS. Emergency Medical Services response to active shooter incidents: provider comfort level and attitudes before and after participation in a focused response training program. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2014;29(4):1-7.

Recognition and Treatment of Eclampsia on a Rural Scene Call: A Case Study of Coordinated Ground and Air Emergency Medical Services

2017 ◽  
Vol 36 (6) ◽  
pp. 341-343
Author(s):  
Harinder S. Dhindsa ◽  
Jessica H. Burns ◽  
Beverly G. Harris ◽  
Clinton C. Schott ◽  
Lisa M. Dodd
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
Emergency Medical

scholarly journals (A285) Planning and Organization of Emergency Medical Services in Mumbai

2011 ◽  
Vol 26 (S1) ◽  
pp. s96-s96
Author(s):  
A. Prakash ◽  
R. Nagose
Keyword(s):  
Emergency Medical Services ◽  
Mass Casualty ◽  
Traffic Volume ◽  
Formal Structure ◽  
Medical Services ◽  
The Past ◽  
Emergency Medical ◽  
Ambulance Dispatch ◽  
The City ◽  
Indian Cities

In the past two decades, Mumbai has witnessed several mass-casualty incidents. Somehow, it seems that the city has missed some important lessons from these events. Mumbai has no formal structure for emergency medical services (EMS). Although EMS may seem to be a much-desired necessity, scholars have raised questions on the practicality and feasibility of having such a system in Mumbai. Factors such as population congestion, traffic volume, and lack of coordination among existing hospitals, the success of such a system in a city like Mumbai is jeopardized. In spite of having similar challenges in some other regions of the country, EMS systems (e.g., in Gujarat) have achieved substantial success. This paper deals with the planning and organization of EMS in Mumbai. It evaluates the performances of the existing EMS systems in other Indian cities. The paper also discusses the advantages of having such a system, particularly during the events such as disasters, accidents, acts of terrorism, etc. The paper also discusses the possible consequences of the absence of EMS, such as delayed ambulance dispatch, improper distribution of patients, overcrowding at certain hospitals thereby leading to poor triage, and several similar problems that can worsen a crisis. It studies the potential challenges for the establishment of such a system in Mumbai, and suggests a model for an effective EMS system for the city.

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