However, tending to the survivors should be first in mind until triage is complete. This event differs from mass fatality events because the focus is on tending to the survivors and not handling decedents.Ī mass casualty event can also be considered a mass fatality, though, if the number of fatalities overwhelms local resources for collecting antemortem data, victim identification, and other recovery operations. Portable trailers can be a useful addition to your local resources by providing a place to tend to wounds and injured persons. This can include transporting non-critically injured survivors to other hospitals outside of the area or having other healthcare workers come in from outside areas to aid in tending to the wounded. Because of this, resources often need to be brought in from outside the area in order to handle the crisis. Mass casualty events occur when the amount of casualties exceeds the local resources for transport and care. After survivors are located, then you can transition to mass fatality management, if it applies. And treatment plans can be started after initial response and triage is complete. Triage must be performed to determine the severity of injuries that the casualties have suffered. First responders will want to locate any surviving victims and guide them to the EMS workers. Mass casualty incidents need to have emergency medical services readily available to tend to victims. The focus is on finding all survivors and aiding them in addressing their wounds or any health services needed. In a mass casualty event, the first priority is to tend to the injured. A mass fatality event also classifies as mass casualty however, not all mass casualty events are a mass fatality. The first step after any incident is to classify the event. The Differences Between Both Response Efforts Emergency management services like the fire department and EMS responders can typically handle the small amount of fatalities that occur on a day to day basis, but problems may arise when an incident occurs, leaving much more casualties than these local services can handle alone. For example, New York City has a higher threshold for casualties compared to small towns due to the amount of resources nearby. Some locations can easily handle five to ten fatalities, while others need to call in reinforcements. It all depends on the local resources available in that area. With a mass casualty or mass fatality event, there is no set number to determine if it falls into one of these categories. Survivors should be treated for their wounds and be supported to lessen the stress associated with being involved in the incident. In either situation, the remaining persons are likely to suffer survivor’s guilt, so the situation must be handled delicately. It should also be noted that if there are any missing persons, emergency management teams should be on alert. In both cases, all disaster victims and survivors will need to be identified. Keep in mind that mass fatality incidents can also be labeled as a mass casualty if there are multiple victims, both alive and dead. In certain situations, the Red Cross will also assist with mutual aid funds to support the response efforts. No matter the cause of the event, local law enforcement will likely be involved at the scene. With such a wide range of possibilities for mass casualty or fatality incidents, it is crucial to have a thought-out incident management system. Some examples include, use of weapons of mass destruction, severe weather like Hurricane Katrina, the pandemic influenza, and terrorist attacks. They can be acts of violence, natural disasters, fires, transportational accidents, and more. Mass casualty and mass fatality incidents can both result from natural or unnatural causes. ![]() The community as a whole needs to be continually updated on the details of the event and how it is being addressed. Family members of victims look for answers on the status of their loved ones. Survivors can suffer from symptoms of PTSD (post-traumatic stress disorder) or other mental health issues. The Similarities of Casualty and Fatality Operationsīoth of these types of events have a severe impact on the surrounding community. It’s imperative that those planning and handling standard operating procedures for emergency response know the difference in services needed. However, the differences do not stop there in emergency preparedness. ![]() In short, the priority for mass casualty events includes tending to the wounded survivors, whereas the priority for mass fatality events focuses on respectfully handling decedents. While these events may take place simultaneously, there are different considerations when addressing both situations. When the unthinkable occurs, it is crucial to have plans in place to minimize the effects of both mass casualty and mass fatality events.
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