EMERGENCY MEDICAL PREPAREDNESS

• NCJ Number: 48941
• Journal: Terrorism Volume: 1 Issue: 1 Dated: (1977) Pages: 51-69
• Author(s): M E SILVERSTEIN
• Date Published: 1977
• Length: 19 pages
• Corporate Author: Crane, Russak and Co, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: *This document is currently unavailable from NCJRS.

Annotation

THE ROLE OF A SPECIAL MEDICAL RESCUE SYSTEM DESIGNED TO LIMIT THE NUMBER OF CASUALTIES AS A RESULT OF TERRORIST INCIDENTS IS DESCRIBED.

Abstract

THE RESCUE SYSTEM IS BASED ON STUDIES WHICH INDICATE THAT, DESPITE THE LARGE VARIETY OF TERRORIST WEAPONRY, THERE IS A COMMON MODEL OF INJURY THAT PERMITS DESIGN OF A SIMPLIFIED, ECONOMIC, HIERARCHICAL MEDICAL RESCUE MODEL. A MEDICAL RESCUE SYSTEM IS PROPOSED BASED ON THREE FUNDAMENTAL CONCEPTS: (1) THE COMMON INJURY MODEL -- BASED ON THE BELIEF THAT THE BODY CAN BE KEPT ALIVE BY PROVIDING THE CELLS OF EACH ORGAN WITH SUFFICIENT WATER, OXYGEN, AND CERTAIN OTHER BLOOD COMPONENTS, WHILE MAINTAINING WITHIN THE SUBSYSTEM'S CIRCULATION THE NECESSARY VOLUME-PRESSURE RELATIONSHIPS, WHATEVER THE NATURE OF THE INJURY, BARRING THE COMPLETE DESTRUCTION OF ANY VITAL ORGAN SUBSYSTEM; (2) THE COMMON WEAPONRY MODEL -- BASED ON THE BELIEF THAT DESPITE APPARENT DISPARATE EFFECTS OF VARIOUS WEAPONS, INITIAL INJURIES FOLLOW A COMMON MODEL; (3) THE COMMON RESUSCITATIVE MODEL -- BASED UPON THE POTENTIALITY OF SUSTAINING LIFE BY SUPPORTING THE VITAL ORGAN SUBSYSTEMS. EACH OF THESE MODELS IS DISCUSSED IN TERMS OF REQUIRED PROCEDURES AND TECHNOLOGY. IT IS PREDICTED THAT THE EFFECTIVE USE OF THESE EMERGENCY TREATMENT MODELS WOULD LIMIT CASUALTIES BY APPROXIMATELY 20 PERCENT. ORGANIZATIONAL AND PLANNING ASPECTS OF THE EMERGENCY MEDICAL SYSTEM WOULD INVOLVE THE FOLLOWING ELEMENTS: (1) REGIONAL RADIO AND TELEPHONE COMMUNICATIONS WITH COMMUNICATIONS CONTROL CENTERS; (2) A HIERARCHY OF PARAMEDIC-STAFFED GROUND AND AIR RESCUE AND TRANSPORTATION VEHICLES CARRYING EQUIPMENT FOR EXTRICATION, PHYSIOLOGICAL TELEMETRY, AND OTHER ELEMENTS OF RESUSCITATION; (3) ADEQUATE FIXED-BASED HOSPITAL DEPARTMENTS WITH TRAINED EMERGENCY PHYSICIANS AND RADIO-TELEMETRY BASES; AND (4) OPERATIONAL TRAUMA TEAMS. AN APPENDIX IS INCLUDED, OUTLINING THE SEQUENCE OF OF MEDICAL CARE. REFERENCES ARE ALSO PROVIDED. (RCB)