Medical Response to Major Incidents and Disasters : A Practical Guide for All Medical Staff

This book, written by members of the core faculty responsible for European courses on Medical Response to Major Incidents (MRMI), is a practical guide for all medical staff on how to respond to a wide range of disaster scenarios. The entire spectrum of knowledge is covered, from command and coordination through to the management of individual casualties. Central importance is attached to the key component of decision making by explaining what needs to be done for patients in particular situations and the required order and timing of treatment measures. Simplified methods receive due attention, as it is often necessary for medical staff to administer primary treatment outside of their own specialty. This book will prove an invaluable aid to all who may be involved in the response to major accidents and disasters, including medical and nursing students, ambulance crew, and military personnel as well as medical specialists. Disaster medicine is constantly gaining in importance owing to the impact of a variety of trends, including the rising global population, increased levels of travel, increasing production and transport of hazardous material, the development of global terrorism, and the increasing likelihood of disasters due to climatic changes. Additional skills are needed to respond effectively to the emergencies that arise from these developments, yet the available textbooks are mainly theoretical and provide limited practical advice and few methodological guidelines. This book, written by members of the core faculty responsible for European courses on Medical Response to Major Incidents (MRMI), is designed to redress the balance by providing a practical guide that covers the full range of disaster scenarios and is relevant to all medical staff. It combines within one comprehensive volume, in an easily accessible format, the entire spectrum of knowledge from command and coordination through to the management of individual casualties. Central importance is attached to the key component of decision making by explaining what needs to be done for patients in particular situations and the required order and timing of treatment measures. Simplified methods receive due attention, as it is often necessary for medical staff to administer primary treatment outside of their own specialty. This book will prove an invaluable aid to all who may be involved in the response to major accidents and disasters, including medical and nursing students, ambulance crew, and military personnel as well as medical specialists Front Matter....Pages i-xxiv Major Incidents: Definitions and Demands on the Health-Care System....Pages 1-7 Major Incidents: Examples and Experiences....Pages 9-32 The Prehospital Response....Pages 33-61 Triage....Pages 63-75 The Hospital Response....Pages 77-98 Management and Identification of Dead Victims....Pages 99-110 Incidents Caused by Physical Trauma....Pages 111-196 Incidents Caused by Fire and Toxic Gas....Pages 197-210 Incidents in Cold and Wet Environments....Pages 211-227 Incidents Caused by Hazardous Material....Pages 229-274 Incidents Caused by Irradiation....Pages 275-292 Infectious Diseases and Microbiological Threats....Pages 293-303 Incidents Caused by Changes in Nature and Climate....Pages 305-319 Combat Casualty Management....Pages 321-335 Terrorist Attacks on the Civilian Community....Pages 337-351 Scoring Systems Related to Outcome in Severe Injuries....Pages 353-362 Psychological Crisis Support in Major Incidents....Pages 363-377 Education and Training....Pages 379-398 Further Methodological Development and Research....Pages 399-405 Erratum to: Chapter 4 Medical Response to Major Incidents and Disasters....Pages E1-E1 Back Matter....Pages 407-412 Annotation This practical text focuses on decision making during a disaster or emergency. It explains what needs to be done for patients in particular situations and details the simplified methods often required when handling victims of major accidents and disasters