Risks to emergency medical responders at terrorist incidents: A narrative review of the medical literature
Date
2014
Journal Title
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Publisher
Springer
Abstract
There is an increasing requirement for evidence-based information and training for emergency personnel responding to terrorist incidents. The current training advises emergency responders to prioritize their own personal safety above all else. However, there is limited information on the nature of these threats and how they may be evaluated. Researchers conducted a literature review to identify the hazards experienced by emergency responders from previous terrorist incidents. There is heterogeneity in the focus and quality of the literature, 307 of which address the subject of scene safety. The authors assessed these articles for information regarding the threats encountered at terrorist incidents. The articles show that emergency responders have been exposed to both direct terrorist threats and environmental scene hazards. The emphasis on training and preparedness for terrorist incidents has been primarily on the direct threats, but the published literature suggests that the dominant causes of mortality in responders after such incidents are indirect environmental hazards. If the medical response to terrorist incidents is to be based on evidence rather than anecdote, analysis of the current literature should be incorporated into major incident training, and consistent collection of key data from future incidents is required. (Author Abstract)
Description
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Keywords
Literature Review, Emergency Medical Responder, Emergency Medical Service Personnel, First Responder, Risk Factors, Terrorism, Mass Violence, Exposure to Violence, Mortality, Morbidity, At-Risk, Harms, Health Consequences, Life Expectancy, Long-term Effects, Medical Consequences, Psychological Consequences
Citation
Thompson, J., Rehn, M., Lossius, H.M., & Lockey, D. (2014). Risks to emergency medical responders at terrorist incidents: A narrative review of the medical literature. Critical Care, 18(521). doi: 10.1186/s13054-014-0521-1