NCJ Number
242333
Date Published
2010
Length
64 pages
Annotation
This report examines the problems faced by public officials, first responders, and health care providers in dealing with mass casualties resulting from terrorist bombings.
Abstract
This report was prepared by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to address the problems faced by public officials, first responders, and health care providers in dealing with mass casualties resulting from terrorist bombings. The sudden influx of patients to hospitals and health care facilities that result from terrorist bombings presents specific challenges that need to be addressed, not only by the health care system in general but by specific medical disciplines as well. This report contains a description of system-wide and discipline-specific challenges resulting from mass casualty events as well as recommendations for addressing these issues. System-wide challenges deal with organization and leadership, alterations in standards of care, education, communications, transportation, infrastructure and capacity, and potential bottlenecks. The disciplines for which specific challenges are discussed include emergency medical services, emergency departments, surgical and intensive care units, radiology departments, blood banks, hospitalists, hospital administrators, drug and pharmaceutical manufacturers, and nursing personnel. An action template is presented for each of these specific disciplines. Each template may include the following: the goal or purpose of the discipline, required resources, assumptions regarding current operation of the unit, recommended action steps to take to improve the unit's response, and conducting evaluation drills to ensure the unit is prepared for such emergencies. References