308674
Mass Casualty Management for Small Island States where Resources are limited
Ferguson, D., Riley, C., and Slack-Liburd, N.
The Evaluation of Regional Emergency Departments of the Caribbean MCM System was designed to provide a comprehensive assessment of the regions capacities to effectively respond to, triage, treat, and stabilize victims of Mass Casualty Incident.
Methods: Explanatory Study employing a Cross–Sectional Design was conducted and Data collected using the Mixed Method Modality. For representative sample and generalizing of data, 24% of the populate countries were randomly selected including British, French-, and Dutch-speaking territories.
Results: Of the eight Islands studied, on average EDs can accommodate 6-25 beds (N=58). In some countries, count was as low as 2-5 beds (N=5). 53% of respondents suggested their car parks as best alternate spaces. Bermuda and Martinique are the only countries with departmental policies that address treatment modalities. Respondents’ skillsets cross-tabulated show that 75% listed spinal injury management, knowledge of the ABCs, and PAHO MCM Training, as the most significant skills to support ER teams in MCM. This was statistically significant p= 0.014.
Conclusion: Due to the complex nature of Mass Casualty Management, a task-oriented approach is necessary for efficiency and effectiveness, and will require discipline and conformity. Teamwork, joint-responsibility, and cooperation between Agencies, Ministries, Regional Support Systems, PAHO and Operational Groups, are critical for success.
Learning Areas:
Provision of health care to the publicPublic health administration or related administration
Public health or related organizational policy, standards, or other guidelines
Learning Objectives:
Identify the present ED bed quotas, staff, supplies and alternate adjunct bed-spaces for MCI in regional hospitals.
Assess the current pre-hospital quotas of trained basic/advanced teams and available resources to respond to MCIs.
Evaluate knowledge, attitudes/practices of ED Nurses/Doctors towards the current Pan American Health Organization Multi-Sectorial training Programme - adequacies, effectiveness and efficiencies.
Keyword(s): Accessibility, Accountability
Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I have been the principal researcher in two grant funding from the Pan American Health Organization/World Health Organization project focusing on Mass Casualty Management, Emergency Medical Services and Disaster Response Mechanism. Amongst my scientific interest is the development of educational policies and procedures for Pre Hospital Care response with 8 Caribbean Island.
Any relevant financial relationships? No
I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.