Military offers lessons for dealing with mass casualties

Iraq and Afghanistan show five ways hospitals can prepare for attacks, disasters


Mass casualty incidents, or MCIs, provide a constant reminder of why hospitals need a plan in place to be able to function optimally during and after a catastrophe, according to an article on the Hospital & Health Networks Daily website.

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 67 percent of American hospitals have plans in place for a range of hazards.

In contrast to most civilian physicians, the military is trained to execute emergency plans for large-scale disasters. The article uses five hospitals where recent conflicts in Iraq and Afghanistan offered useful lessons for civilian hospitals.

• Emergency response (Who's in charge?)

• Improved hospital triage

• Maintaining hospital function

• Improved communication between health care personnel

• Practice makes perfect

Read the article.

 



September 17, 2014


Topic Area: Safety


Recent Posts

Wanted: Scientific Standard for Hospital Cleaning

No accepted criteria exist for defining a surface as clean using microbiologic methods.


NLCS Strengthens Safety and Compliance with Comprehensive Electrical Program

Case study: A renewed partnership with Siemens helps the senior living provider meet NFPA 70B standards, reduce risk, and enhance reliability across its communities.


Sun Valley Surgery Center Suffers a Data Breach

On September 3, 2025, SVSC became aware of a potential issue involving SVSC’s information systems.


EV Charging Stations: Planning for Safety, Convenience, Expansion

Managers need to ensure patient access, coordinate with clinical operations and ensure every phase of construction supports the facility's mission.


Why Ambulatory Surgery Centers Are Turning to Dedicated HVAC Systems

Design experts from Neenan Archistruction explain how single-unit HVAC systems for each operating room enhance infection control, comfort, and resiliency.


 
 


FREE Newsletter Signup Form

News & Updates | Webcast Alerts
Building Technologies | & More!

 
 
 


All fields are required. This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.

 
 
 
 

Healthcare Facilities Today membership includes free email newsletters from our facility-industry brands.

Facebook   Twitter   LinkedIn   Posts

Copyright © 2023 TradePress. All rights reserved.