Development and evaluation of a mass casualty medicine simulation method using figurines

Fifteen-minute consultation: An overview of major incidents

Major incidents are rare but require a large amount of preparation, co-ordination and communication across different emergency services and specialities. This ensures that casualties are efficiently managed within the constraints of limited clinical resources. This article aims to provide a brief understanding of what constitutes as a major incident, how it is declared and the chain of command in communication and action, focusing specifically on the paediatric process. It also aims to highlight important considerations that could potentially be missed (eg, the mental health impact, forensic evidence and so on).

Mass casualty medicine: time for a 21st century refresh

Mass casualty events are on the rise globally, as we face increasing pressures from scarcity of resources, population growth, systemic inequalities, geopolitical instabilities, and polarised discourse. Although they are rare events for an individual practitioner, they are going to happen to someone, somewhere, this week, this month, this year. And whilst they are often the last consideration for healthcare systems under constant pressures from daily routine work, individuals, departments, hospitals, and systems have to step up effectively in times of crisis. Failure to do so can lead to suboptimal outcomes for casualties, and even perceived failures can have crippling consequences on staff, families, and communities for years.