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International Journal of Emergency Medicine

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Open Access 01-12-2012 | Original Research

Major incident preparedness and on-site work among Norwegian rescue personnel – a cross-sectional study

Authors: Sabina Fattah, Andreas J Krüger, Jan Einar Andersen, Trond Vigerust, Marius Rehn

Published in: International Journal of Emergency Medicine | Issue 1/2012

Abstract

Background

A major incident has occurred when the number of live casualties, severity, type of incident or location requires extraordinary resources. Major incident management is interdisciplinary and involves triage, treatment and transport of patients. We aimed to investigate experiences within major incident preparedness and management among Norwegian rescue workers.

Methods

A questionnaire was answered by 918 rescue workers across Norway. Questions rated from 1 (doesn’t work) to 7 (works excellently) are presented as median and range.

Results

Health-care personnel constituted 34.1% of the participants, firefighters 54.1% and police 11.8%. Training for major incident response scored 5 (1, 7) among health-care workers and 4 (1, 7) among firefighters and police. Preparedness for major incident response scored 5 (1, 7) for all professions. Interdisciplinary cooperation scored 5 (3, 7) among health-care workers and police and 5 (1, 7) among firefighters. Among health-care workers, 77.5% answered that a system for major-incident triage exists; 56.3% had triage equipment available. The majority – 45.1% of health-care workers, 44.7% of firefighters and 60.4% of police – did not know how long it would take to get emergency stretchers to the scene.

Conclusions

Rescue personnel find major incident preparedness and on-scene multidisciplinary cooperation to function well. Some shortcomings are reported with regard to systems for major incident triage, tagging equipment for triage and knowledge about access to emergency stretchers.

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Title: Major incident preparedness and on-site work among Norwegian rescue personnel – a cross-sectional study
Authors: Sabina Fattah
Andreas J Krüger
Jan Einar Andersen
Trond Vigerust
Marius Rehn
Publication date: 01-12-2012
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: International Journal of Emergency Medicine / Issue 1/2012
Print ISSN: 1865-1372
Electronic ISSN: 1865-1380
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/1865-1380-5-40

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Major incident preparedness and on-site work among Norwegian rescue personnel – a cross-sectional study

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

Keynote webinar | Spotlight on medication adherence

Springer Medicine

Abstract

Background

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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