Wednesday morning, a gas leak triggered an explosion that flattened two NYC apartment buildings, killing at least seven people and injuring more than 60. Then just after midnight, a suspected drunk driver fleeing police crashed through barricades at a Texas festival and plowed into a crowd, killing two and injuring 23.
Having two high-profile EMS incidents occur within a few hours of each other serves as a somber reminder of being able to respond effectively when the community needs our services the most.
Here are three lessons from these incidents.
1. MCI management is an interdisciplinary game. EMS, fire, law enforcement, public works, utility companies, and other agencies have to pull together to mitigate a mass casualty event. Each agency has its part to play.
In the initial phase, public safety agencies have to aggressively rescue victims, protect others from harm and minimize the extent of the incident. Over time, other public agencies stabilize the effects of the disaster, seek to find the cause of the event, determine wrongdoing, and figure out what could be done to prevent the incident from happening again.
2. MCI drills are crucial. They can be tedious. But rehearsing the plan, practicing the techniques, and analyzing outcomes add up to be mentally prepared for when the ‘big one’ hits. Try to keep that in mind the next time you are going through yet another tabletop exercise.
3. The risk of injury to rescuers is high. While I don’t have any evidence to support my assertion, I believe that the adrenalin flow created by the stress taxes our bodies. Poor body mechanics and extended cardiovascular workload, not to mention the hazards associated with the actual incident itself, may make us take unnecessary risks.
Keep a cool head in these situations. The person you save might very well be yourself.
