Journal of Defense Management
Open Access

Abstract

Measures of Intervention in Burn Disasters: Preparedness and Crisis Management

Bishara Atiyeh and Tapani Alatossava

Burn disasters are special incidents in that small numbers of casualties rapidly overwhelm available services and resources. Contrary to the previously held hypothesis that people either escape with minor injuries or are killed immediately, a large number of severely burned patients do survive these events and require special medical assistance. To ensure adequate response appropriate crisis management planning and preparedness are required. Mass casualty triage and transport guidelines must be put into practice and coordinated with local, regional and national response plans. Decision-making and use of resources must be precisely tailored to allow the ?greatest good for the greatest number?. It is also incumbent upon everyone in the healthcare profession to become comfortable managing burn-injured patients until the patients can be moved to a burn center.