Active shooter in emergency departments in Guanajuato State, Mexico.

Mass violence events, especially in healthcare settings, have devastating consequences and long-lasting effects on the victims and the community. The rate of violent events in Mexico, especially in hospital settings, has increased since 2006, but has become more evident in 2018. Guanajuato State, located in central Mexico, is among the states most affected by the wave of violence, especially active shooter events. The year 2019 had the highest number of incidents. Therefore, the Silver Code and the components of Safe Hospitals, in accordance with the Hartford consensus and PAHO guidelines, were implemented in the hospitals of the Institute of Public Health of the State of Guanajuato, with a focus on the actions of healthcare personnel to prevent collateral damage. Although subsequently there were still fatalities and injuries in the events involving active shooters in the hospitals, there were no casualties among healthcare personnel, according to data from the Institute of Public Health, Guanajuato State. This paper presents information from the data from General Directorate of Epidemiology to describe the hospital mass violence situation in the State of Guanajuato, Mexico and recounts the step taken to effectively manage and prevent these situations moving forward. Specific recommendations based on international consensus and our experience provided include increasing the level of security checks for people entering the hospital premises, training healthcare personnel on violence-related preparedness and improving management of active shooter events consistent with published evidence, to reduce the possibility of casualties.

Assistência de urgência e emergência: desafios no atendimento a múltiplas vítimas / Urgency and emergency assistance: challenges in caring for multiple victims / Urgencias y emergencias: retos en la atención a múltiples víctimas

A urgência e emergência, por sua vez, se faz como ocorrência imprevista com ou sem risco potencial à vida, onde o indivíduo necessita de assistência e pressupõem atendimento rápido, proporcional a sua gravidade. O presente trabalho tem o objetivo de promover reflexões acerca dos desafios que surgem diante do atendimento a múltiplas vítimas nos serviços médicos de urgência e emergência. Trata-se de uma revisão integrativa da literatura. Realizou-se uma análise de materiais já publicados na literatura e artigos científicos divulgados em bases de dados: Scientific Eletronic Library Online, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online e Localizador de informação em Saúde. Foram encontradas nas bases de dados, 25 estudos completos, após a leitura dos resumos, 21 artigos foram selecionados para análise na íntegra, sendo 17 eleitos para integrar a revisão integrativa. Diante dos resultados obtidos, observou que as equipes de atendimento pré- hospitalar vivenciam desafios para atender múltiplas vítimas, e dentro desse paradigma existem várias etapas que devem ser seguidas, que envolvem comunicação desde um protocolo de atendimento inicial ao transporte final. Portanto, observa-se a necessidade de maiores estudos e desenvolvimento de novas tecnologias que auxiliam na assistência a múltiplas vítimas, como também o prepara e atualização dos profissionais.

Urgency and emergency, in turn, is made as an unforeseen occurrence with or without potential risk to life, where the individual needs assistance and quick care, in turn, proportional to its severity. The work of emergency care and the need to respond to problems presented in urgent and emergency services. This is an integrative literature review. An analysis was performed of materials already published in the literature and articles published in databases: Scientific Electronic Library Online, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online and Health Information Locator. All studies were complete, after reading the studies,21 articles were selected for full analysis, with 17 studies elected to integrate the integrative review. Results obtained, observed that pre care teams experience challenges to support various hospital communication protocols, and within these paradigms from initial care to transport. Therefore, there is a need for studies and development of technologies that assist in the installation of larger and more up-to-date devices, there is a need for studies and development of new technologies, as well as preparation.

La atención de urgencia y emergencia es un suceso imprevisto con o sin riesgo potencial para la vida, en el que el individuo necesita asistencia y requiere una atención rápida, proporcional a su gravedad. Este documento pretende promover la reflexión sobre los retos que surgen al tratar con múltiples víctimas en los servicios médicos de urgencia y emergencia. Se trata de una revisión bibliográfica integradora. Se ha realizado un análisis de los materiales publicados en la literatura y los artículos científicos divulgados en las bases de datos: Scientific Eletronic Library Online, Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online y Localizador de información en Salud. Se encontraron en las bases de datos, 25 estudios completos, después de leer los resúmenes, se seleccionaron 21 artículos para el análisis en su totalidad, siendo 17 elegidos para integrar la revisión integradora. A partir de los resultados obtenidos, se observa que los equipos de atención prehospitalaria viven desafíos para atender a múltiples víctimas, y dentro de este paradigma existen varias etapas que deben seguirse, que implican la comunicación desde un protocolo de atención inicial hasta el transporte final. Por lo tanto, se observa la necesidad de realizar más estudios y desarrollar nuevas tecnologías que ayuden en la asistencia a las múltiples víctimas, así como la preparación y actualización de los profesionales.

Basic Seismic Response Capability of Hospitals in Lima, Peru.

OBJECTIVE: The objective of the study was to research the basic seismic response capability (BSRC) of hospitals in Lima Metropolitana. A large number of wounded could be registered in case of an earthquake; therefore, operational hospitals are necessary to cure the injured. The study focused on the operational performance of the hospitals, autonomies of essential resources such as power, water, medical gases, and medicine, in addition to the availability of emergency communication system and ambulances. METHODS: Data by a probabilistic seismic risk analysis have been used to assess the operational level of the hospitals. Subsequently, availability of an essential resource has been combined with the immediately operational hospitals to evaluate the BSRC of the health facilities. RESULTS: Forty-one of Lima's hospitals have been analyzed for a seismic event with 72-100 years of a return period. Three hospitals (7.3%) were capable to work in a self-sufficient manner for 72 hours, another three (7.3%) for 24 hours, and one (2.4%) for 12 hours. CONCLUSION: Results showed a low performance of the hospitals in case of an earthquake. The issue is due to the high seismic vulnerability of the existing structures. Given the importance of Lima city in Peru, structural and nonstructural retrofitting plans should be implemented to improve the preparedness of the health system in case of an emergency. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2019;13:138-143).

Response and legislative changes after the Kiss nightclub tragedy in Santa Maria/RS/Brazil: Learning from a large-scale burn disaster.

PURPOSE: A major fire occurred on January 27, 2013, at 02:30 at Kiss nightclub in the city of Santa Maria, State of Rio Grande do Sul, in Southern Brazil. In this retrospective report, we aimed to describe the nightclub fire event, its immediate consequences, and evaluated its impact on legislation. Our objective was to disseminate the lessons we learned from this large-scale nightclub fire disaster. METHODS: We conducted a literature review in PubMed and Lilacs database from 2013 to 2015 related to the nightclub Kiss, Santa Maria, fire, burns, and similar events worldwide over the past 15 years. We searched in the general press and online media information sites, and seeking legislation about this topic at the federal level in Brazil. We reported on the legislation changes that resulted from this nightclub fire. RESULTS: Current federal legislation on fire prevention and the scope of public safety, including night clubs and discos, states is the duty of the state and everyone's responsibility, pursuant to Article 144 of the Federal Constitution of Brazil. Thus, the federal union, individual states and municipalities have the power to legislate on fire prevention, and especially to ensure the security of the population. A state law called "Law Kiss", was passed in 2014, establishing standards on safety, prevention and protection against fire in buildings and areas of fire risk in the state of Rio Grande do Sul. On a national level, a law of prevention and fire fighting in Brazil was also drafted after the Santa Maria disaster (Law project no. 4923, 2013). Currently, this bill is still awaiting sanction before it can take effect. CONCLUSION: As we push for enactment of the national law of prevention and fire fighting in Brazil, we will continue emphasizing fire prevention, fire protection, fire fighting, means of escape and proper management. All similar events in this and other countries remind us that similar tragedies may occur anywhere, and that the analysis of facts, previous mistakes, during and after the incident are crucial to our understanding, and will help us lessen the chance of future occurrences.

Pediatric orthopedic injuries following an earthquake: experience in an acute-phase field hospital.

BACKGROUND: Following the 2010 earthquake in Haiti, the Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps deployed a field hospital in Port au Prince. The purpose of this study was to characterize the injuries sustained by the pediatric population treated in the hospital and examine the implications for planning deployment in future similar disasters. METHODS: Medical records of children treated in the hospital were reviewed and compared with medical records of the adult population. RESULTS: A total of 1,111 patients were treated in the hospital. Thirty-seven percent were aged 0 to 18 years. Earthquake-related injuries were the cause of admission in 47% of children and 66% of adults. Forty-seven percent of children with traumatic injuries sustained fractures. Seventy-two percent were in the lower limbs, 19% were in the upper limbs, and 9% were in the axial skeleton, with the femur being the most common long bone fractured compared with the tibia in adults.There were four functional operating theaters, and treatment guidelines were adjusted to the rapidly changing situation. Soft tissue injuries were treated by aggressive debridement. Fractures were stabilized by external fixation or casting. Amputation was performed only for nonviable limbs or life-threatening sepsis. Children were more likely than adults to undergo surgery (44% vs. 29% of trauma patients). To maximize hospital surge capacity, minor procedures were performed in the wards under sedation, and patients were discharged after an average of 1.4 days, with subsequent follow-up in the clinic. CONCLUSION: Children constitute a high percentage of patients in a developing country. The epidemiology of pediatric injuries following an earthquake differs significantly from that encountered in everyday practice and compared with that in adults. Children sustain a significantly higher percentage of femoral fractures and are more likely to require surgery. The shift to nontraumatic reasons for admission occurred earlier in the pediatric population than in adults. Organizations providing post-earthquake relief are usually geared toward adult populations and will require supplementation of both manpower and equipment specifically suited for treatment of pediatric patients. Early deployment teams should be adequately staffed with adult and pediatric orthopedists. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Epidemiologic study, level IV.

Conditions found among pediatric survivors during the early response to natural disaster: a prospective case study.

BACKGROUND: Major natural disasters may provoke a mass casualty situation, and children tend to represent an important proportion of the victims. The purpose of this study was to prospectively record medical conditions presented by pediatric survivors of a major natural disaster to determine the type of medical specialists most needed during the acute phase of relief response. METHODS: After the 2010 Haiti earthquake, age, sex, date of presentation, diagnosis, and treatment provided were prospectively recorded for all patients less than 18 years old treated by a medical relief team. Patients were then allocated to 1 of the 2 groups: surgical (traumatism or surgical disorder) and medical (medical disorder). Medical activity lasted for 43 days. RESULTS: Four hundred seventy-one of the 796 treated patients were less than 18 years old. Two hundred forty-four (52%) were assigned to the surgical group and 227 (48%) to the medical group. As there was a substantial decrease in the number of new surgical patients registered on day 11 of activity, we arbitrarily defined an early period (until day 10 of activity) and a late period (beginning on day 11 of activity). Data obtained from the 147 new patients registered during the early period revealed 134 (91%) surgical patients and 13 (9%) medical patients. Eighty-eight percent of patients needed specialized care for traumatic orthopaedic lesions, and procedures under anesthesia or sedation were mainly (98%) performed for traumatic conditions. Data obtained for the 324 new patients registered during the late period revealed 110 (34%) surgical patients and 214 (66%) medical patients. There was a switch from high surgical needs to more routine medical and surgical care, with less procedures (88%) for the treatment of traumatic lesions. CONCLUSIONS: Pediatric orthopaedic surgeons have a major role to play in the acute phase of relief response to potentially minimize long-term physical and psychosocial disability associated with these complex injuries in growing patients. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Economic or decision analyses, level II.

The Haiti earthquake: the provision of wound care for mass casualties utilizing negative-pressure wound therapy.

Many months after the devastating earthquake in January 2010, wounds remain a major disease burden in Haiti. Since January 2010, through the efforts of corporations, nonprofit charitable organizations, and medical professionals, advanced wound care techniques, including negative-pressure wound therapy (NPWT), have been introduced into the wound care regimens of various hospitals in Haiti. In June 2010, the authors completed their second volunteer trip at a Haitian hospital specializing in orthopedic wounds. The medical team was composed of a plastic surgeon, orthopedic surgeon, anesthesiologist, medical assistant, scrub technician, and registered nurse (specializing in plastic surgery and orthopedics). The authors' team supplied NPWT devices, reticulated open-cell foam dressings, and canisters donated by Kinetic Concepts, Inc, San Antonio, Texas, for use at the hospital. This report describes the medical challenges in postearthquake Haiti (including limb salvage and infection), benefits of adjunctive use of NPWT/reticulated open-cell foam, and current wound care status in a Haitian orthopedic hospital. The future role of NPWT in Haiti and during mass catastrophe in a least-developed country is also discussed.