IngentaConnect Emergency Medical Preparedness and Response to a Singapore Airlin...

Authors: Lee, Wen-Huei; Chiu, Te-Fa; Ng, Chip-Jin; Chen, Jih-Chang

Source: Academic Emergency Medicine, Volume 9, Number 3, March 2002 , pp. 194-198(5)

Abstract:

A Singapore airline crash in 2000 was the first documented mass casualty incident (MCI) caused by an aircraft disaster in Taiwan. This report reviews the emergency medical preparedness of the airport and examines its effects on the medical response during this incident. The anticipated benefits from the new MCI plan and prior medical preparedness were not achieved during this disaster. Poor compliance with the new MCI plan by the airport authority was noted. Victims were not triaged and did not receive adequate field medical care. Structural problems with the MCI plan were also noted. Site medical teams responding from hospitals could not function as the plan had been designed. This article discusses factors causing the poor compliance, various problems, and related issues in medical response to the incident. As learned from this experience, a properly and practically designed MCI plan, good compliance of responders, and a strong support system of responding agencies are the most important factors for successful emergency response to any MCI.

Keywords: emergency medical services; mass casualty incident; disaster medicine; accident; aviation; aircraft

Document Type: Research article

DOI: 10.1197/aemj.9.3.194

The full text electronic article is available for purchase. You will be able to download the full text electronic article after payment.

$50.39 plus tax Refund Policy

Emergency Medical Preparedness and Response to a Singapore Airliner Crash