Mass Casualty, Article Critique Example

Outline

Introduction

• Definition of a Mass Casualty Event and list examples

Discussion of personal and family preparedness recommendations and guidelines

Discussion of American Nurses Association (ANA) Disaster Competencies for Nurses

Discussion of mass casualty and triage basics, and the Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment system [START]

Discussion of hospital personnel roles in hospital triage

Discussion of educational programs for professional development

Discussion of hospital disaster plans

Discussion of the ANA Policy White Paper

Conclusion

• Summary of three things learnt from this article.

Introduction

Definition of a Mass Casualty Event and list of examples

According to the authors while all disasters are mass casualties in definition specifically, the concept mass casualty event refers to a disaster that overwhelms a community and public health disaster teams. Many people are injured/killed/lost and it would appear that resources suddenly become inadequate to deal with the outcome. In these circumstances triage intervention begins almost immediately since most victims are in a critical condition. Examples of mass casualty events were the Haitian earthquake; nuclear explosion in Japan accompanying the earthquake and our own 9/11 experience her in United States of America.

Article Summary

Discussion of personal and family preparedness

Recommendations and guidelines

Many resources are required and recommended if planners are to include a personal and family preparedness intervention in their projections. These include seeking assistance by calling numbers tendered by the American Red Cross Association. It is advised that all personal information such as personal identification documents; social security cards; immunization records for children and health insurance information be available for proper management during mass causality events. Rescuers will at least need to have a name and health conditions profile to intervene successfully with triage management (Smith, 2010)

Importantly, it is recommended that the public keeps abreast with current information regarding the mass casualty event to ensure personal and family safety. This is key to limiting accidents. From reports the public will be alerted regarding dangerous zones and areas where power lines have been destroyed. Subsequently, households ought to devise systems of protecting themselves if power is lost or roadways are blocked hindering access to health care providers. Mass casualty events often occur without warning. On most occasions there is very little time to plan ahead. As such, many preparedness measures are undertaken during the mass causality event itself. By keeping abreast with current new report the instinct is being ready to move into a place of safety(Smith, 2010)

Discussionof American Nurses Association (ANA)

Disaster Competencies for Nurses

The American Nurses Association (ANA) Disaster Competencies for nurses clearly outlines the importance of nurses knowing their role during disaster/mass causality event. Insidiously, they must be aware of being part of the community and institutional response team. Also, nurses ought to demonstrate the ability to evaluate injuries occurring from terrorists’ activities and address them appropriately. In addition it is critical during the response phase to differentiate between illness occurring from the mass causality event itself and predisposing medical condition prior to the incident (Smith, 2010).

Precisely, itis required that nurses use their training and skills to discern emerging illness patterns and unusual clusters of disease presentations. They are mandated to report all notifiable cases detected during the mass casualty event to public health authorities. For example, if HIV/AIDS cases are diagnosed relevant public health authorities must be notified. Patient care must be initiated at all times within the nursing scope practice to relive suffering during as mass causality event. Subsequent appropriate steps must be instituted and measures taken to control disease and limit contamination by wearing protective garments. Ultimately stress assessment must be undertaken and appropriately managed through referrals to mental health resources (Smith, 2010).

Discussionof mass casualty and triage basics and

The Simple Triage and Rapid Treatment system [START]

Mass casualty triage basics and the Simple Triage-Rapid Treatment System embrace the concept, ‘do the greatest good for the greatest number of causalities.’ First responders usually alert hospitals regarding the amount and severity of casualties in preparation for triage services. Institutions will then activate the emergency triage plan in anticipation of the amount of casualties that will be arriving. In-house patient are first triaged. This allows for expeditious relocation of patients to wards or discharged for home. Intelligence; astute decision making skills along with excellent management strategies are required to successfully manage triage basics for limiting inappropriate decisions during the process(Veenema, 2007).

Importantly, since mass causality event victims are not the same as in any other disaster they are specifically managed the emergency department (ED) staff/EMS. START techniques are employed whereby victims are assessed based on their ability to respond verbally; ambulate; mental status; respiration rates and percussion. After the assessment process they are tagged with red, yellow, green or black depending on the level of response obtained. Victims are then given immediate care or transported to the nearest healthcare facility (Smith, 2010).

Discussion of hospital personnel roles in hospital triage

Execution of hospital triage roles are crucial to limiting amounts of casualties along with complications emerging from injuries. When victims arrive at hospitals they are reassessed by hospital health care providers. Also, they must be prepared to address the needs of victim arriving without ambulance services, ambulant and there before any the EMS arrivals. Along with meeting patients’ needs family members searching for victims may converge at hospital locations too seeking information. Health care providers are expected to address these emergencies as well (Smith, 2010).

Discussion of educational programs for professional development

Therefore, professional development in managing mass casualty events in and out of hospital is essential. There are many resources online and in the community that are helpful guides to improving response to mass causality from both personal and professional perspective. National Incident Management Courses are available through FEMA, which is a government agency responsible for addressing mass casualty events and disasters in the United States of America. Classes are free and the American Red Cross also serves as valuable resource (Smith, 2010).

Discussion of hospital disaster plans

A hospital incident command system exists offering strict guidelines pertaining to how institutions of this nature ought to prepare for and function during mass casualty events. This plan has to be adjusted towards addressing specific needs in the organizations. The plan ought to be placed in a convenient place for employees to view and ask questions before an event occurs.Nurses roles are contained within the jurisdiction of their licensure and nursing managers clinical areas assignments (Smith, 2010).

Discussion of the ANA Policy White Paper

ANA white policy paper embraces two major responsibilities first every professional is expected to maintain a state of professional readiness for emergency response and second every organization or institution to plan for and practice emergency response. Therefore, this policy statement removes from nurses speculations regarding their role in mass causality events. American health care system at one time was structured to exclude nurses from disaster preparedness roles making it the sole responsibility of first responders. However, this policy white paper has embraced nurses not only as first responders in their distinct positions, but essentially equipped to cope with emerges on the field as well in clinical settings(American Nurses Association, 2008).

Conclusion

Summaryof three things that you learned from this article.

Three principles learnt from this article are first is that management of mass casualty is not exactly the same as a disaster. The intensity for rescue is more acute. Triage intervention is almost immediate and with the changing roles of nurses we have a major part to play in reduction ofcasualties either at the event site or in hospital settings. Second, the EMS START assessment is an excellent tagging strategy in determining who has to be given priority and at what rate. Third is initiating personal and family preparedness even when the next phase of the event is obscure. Keeping the communication lines open and listening to reports are an essential, aspect of family and personal preparedness.

References

American Nurses Association (2008).Adapting Standards of Care under Extreme conditions. American Nurse Association Center for Health Policy.

Smith, J. (2010).Mass Causality: Are you prepared? Nursing

Veenema, T. G. (2007).Disaster nursing and emergency preparedness. For chemical, biological, and radiological terrorism and other hazards. (3nd ed.). New York, NY: Springer Publishing Company.