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Challenges of Major Incident Management When Excess Resources are Allocated: Experiences from a Mass Casualty Incident after Roof Collapse of a Military Command Center

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Luis Romundstad ,
Knut Ole Sundnes ,
Johan Pillgram-Larsen ,
Geir K. Røste  and
Mads Gilbert
Luis Romundstad*
Affiliation:
Medical Battalion, Division 6, Norwegian Defense Forces
Knut Ole Sundnes
Affiliation:
Joint Medical Command Norway, Norwegian Defense Forces
Johan Pillgram-Larsen
Affiliation:
Joint Medical Command Norway, Norwegian Defense Forces
Geir K. Røste
Affiliation:
Medical Battalion, Division 6, Norwegian Defense Forces
Mads Gilbert
Affiliation:
Department of Acute Medicine, University Hospital of Northern Norway, Tromsø, Norway
*
Department of Anesthesia, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, N-0027, Oslo, Norway E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

During a military exercise in northern Norway in March 2000, the snowladen roof of a command center collapsed with 76 persons inside. Twentyfive persons were entrapped and/or buried under snow masses. There were three deaths. Seven patients had serious injuries, three had moderate injuries, and 16 had minor injuries.

A military Convalescence Camp that had been set up in a Sports Hall 125 meters from the scene was reorganized as a causality clearing station. Officers from the Convalescence Camp initially organized search and rescue. In all, 417 persons took part in the rescue work with 36 ambulances, 17 helicopters, three ambulance airplanes and one transport plane available. Two ambulances, five helicopters and one transport aircraft were used. Four patients were evacuated to a civilian hospital and six to a field hospital.

The stretcher and treatment teams initially could have been more effectively organized. As resources were ample, this was a mass casualty, not a disaster. Firm incident command prevented the influx of excess resources.

Keywords

major incident managementrescue actionroof collapse
Type
Case Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 19 , Issue 2 , June 2004 , pp. 179 - 184
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2004

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