Examining disaster planning models for large scale burn incidents - A theoretical plane crash into a high rise building

Background The escalation of global terrorist attacks has resulted in a rise of traumatic injuries. Planning for mass casualty incidents (MCIs) is critical to decrease the morbidity and mortality that ensues after large-scale terrorist attacks. This study provides criteria for the management of burn victims following large-scale disasters. Methods Mass casualty outcomes from three disasters involving commercial aircraft crashes were analyzed. The three events included the El-Al cargo Aircraft crash near the Amsterdam Schiphol Airport in 1992, the World Trade Center attacks in New York and the attack against the Pentagon in Washington, DC on 9/11/01. Results Using the data obtained from these events, the severity of injuries in patients were determined. The result is a general template that may be customized with locally or regionally specific data, in order to evaluate the preparedness of a specific burn alignment for such a scenario. Conclusion Recommendations based on the analysis of previous MCI's were put forth. Based on the needs recognized during these past events, suggestions were made to enhance the preparedness of burn units, hospitals and national agencies as well as municipal authorities.