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Published in: Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine 1/2012

Open Access 01-12-2012 | Original research

Oslo government district bombing and Utøya island shooting July 22, 2011: The immediate prehospital emergency medical service response

Authors: Stephen JM Sollid, Rune Rimstad, Marius Rehn, Anders R Nakstad, Ann-Elin Tomlinson, Terje Strand, Hans Julius Heimdal, Jan Erik Nilsen, Mårten Sandberg, Collaborating group

Published in: Scandinavian Journal of Trauma, Resuscitation and Emergency Medicine | Issue 1/2012

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Abstract

Background

On July 22, 2011, a single perpetrator killed 77 people in a car bomb attack and a shooting spree incident in Norway. This article describes the emergency medical service (EMS) response elicited by the two incidents.

Methods

A retrospective and observational study was conducted based on data from the EMS systems involved and the public domain. The study was approved by the Data Protection Official and was defined as a quality improvement project.

Results

We describe the timeline and logistics of the EMS response, focusing on alarm, dispatch, initial response, triage and evacuation. The scenes in the Oslo government district and at Utøya island are described separately.

Conclusions

Many EMS units were activated and effectively used despite the occurrence of two geographically separate incidents within a short time frame. Important lessons were learned regarding triage and evacuation, patient flow and communication, the use of and need for emergency equipment and the coordination of helicopter EMS.
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Metadata
Title
Oslo government district bombing and Utøya island shooting July 22, 2011: The immediate prehospital emergency medical service response
Authors
Stephen JM Sollid
Rune Rimstad
Marius Rehn
Anders R Nakstad
Ann-Elin Tomlinson
Terje Strand
Hans Julius Heimdal
Jan Erik Nilsen
Mårten Sandberg
Collaborating group
Publication date
01-12-2012
Publisher
BioMed Central
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1186/1757-7241-20-3

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