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Published in: World Journal of Emergency Surgery 1/2016

Open Access 01-12-2016 | Commentary

Mass casualty incidents - time to engage

Authors: Offir Ben-Ishay, Michele Mitaritonno, Fausto Catena, Massimo Sartelli, Luca Ansaloni, Yoram Kluger

Published in: World Journal of Emergency Surgery | Issue 1/2016

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Abstract

Mass casualty incident continues to overwhelm medical systems worldwide.
Preparedness for an MCI is a crucial requisite for the injured better outcome. The World Society of Emergency Surgery initiated a survey in regard to its senior member's personal and institutional preparedness for MCI. The results here in presented indicate that WSES should engage in a formatted and structured preparedness course for medical institutions and individuals.
By all appearances it seems to be just another normal Saturday morning in the emergency department (ED). Patients occupy thirty out of the sixty beds; some awaits discharge, some awaits admission to the hospital. All of a sudden the squeaky voice of the red phone is tearing the air, the hard metal voice on the line is reporting of an explosion in the nearby train station, estimated number of casualties is 80. You ask for their estimated time of arrival, when you hear the first sirens of ambulances parking out of the ED; no answer was needed.
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Metadata
Title
Mass casualty incidents - time to engage
Authors
Offir Ben-Ishay
Michele Mitaritonno
Fausto Catena
Massimo Sartelli
Luca Ansaloni
Yoram Kluger
Publication date
01-12-2016
Publisher
BioMed Central
Published in
World Journal of Emergency Surgery / Issue 1/2016
Electronic ISSN: 1749-7922
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/s13017-016-0064-7

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