It’s a sad and terrifying fact: The number of active shooter and mass casualty incidents have been on the rise over the past 15 years in the United States. As a trauma surgeon at a large trauma center, our team routinely practices and plans for these types of incidents, which could lead to a large number of people becoming injured at one time. Research has shown that preparing for emergencies can lead to better outcomes, but the preparation should not start in the hospital. Here are a few tips to help you prepare yourself, and your family, in the case of a mass casualty incident.
1. Have a place to meet.
In times of a mass casualty, cell phone service can be unreliable and it’s best to predesignate where your family will meet in these types of situations. In talking with your family, identify key locations where each family member already spends time — home, school, work, church — and choose a corresponding location you all agree on. For family events, such as concerts or visits to an amusement park, identify a place outside of the venue where everyone can meet, in case you get separated.
[Read: Talking to Your Children About Tragedy.]
2. Have medical and contact information on you.
When large numbers of people present to the hospital at one time, it can take hours for loved ones to be notified. Identification with emergency contact information should be kept in your wallet or on your person at all times. In addition, all significant medical history, what medications you take and allergies you have should be next to your identification. These tips are especially important for young children, who may not be able to communicate contact information or medical problems with health care providers.
3. Know how to use a tourniquet.
Uncontrolled bleeding is the No. 1 cause of preventable death in patients who have been injured. Knowing how to apply direct pressure to a bleeding wound or apply/create a tourniquet is a life-saving skill that anyone can learn. Stop the Bleed is a national campaign that launched in 2015 and aims to empower every bystander with the knowledge and confidence to help in a bleeding emergency. Community events and training opportunities can be found at bleedingcontrol.org.
[Read: How to Help Your Teen Cope With the Death of a Friend.]
4. Know your community hospitals.
Not all hospitals have the same capabilities, especially when it comes to traumatically injured patients. There are different levels of trauma centers, based on their capabilities, resources and the number of injured patients they treat each year. Level I is the highest level, and these hospitals often serve as a referral center for the most significantly injured patients. During a mass casualty incident, the most severely injured patients will typically be transferred there, so it is important to know where those are. To find out which hospitals are trauma centers in your area, and which level they have been designated, visit www.amtrauma.org/?page=findtraumacenter or www.facs.org/search/trauma-centers.
[See: 10 Concerns Parents Have About Their Kids’ Health.]
Although we cannot always control what happens to us, we can and should plan for emergencies. Talking with your loved ones and children about what they should do and where they should go is an important part of that preparation.
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How to Be Prepared for a Mass Casualty originally appeared on usnews.com
