Issue link: https://read.dmtmag.com/i/46658
BY OFER AMRAM Emergency Care A Web-Based Spatial System Assists Patient Evacuation during a Mass Casualty M any aspects of life in North America changed in the aftermath of the terrorist attacks that took place in the United States on Sept. 11, 2001. In addition to the implementation of new security protocols and the strengthening of those already in existence, there also were more subtle changes. Within the medical community, for example, it became evident that existing strategies for managing mass casu- alty incidents (MCIs) were insufficient when dealing with large-scale terrorist attacks. This clearly was recognized in a statement by the American College of Surgeons (ACS), acknowledging that a smoother integration of res- cue, decontamination, triage, stabilization, evacuation and definitive treatment of casualties was required to provide the best care to the greatest number of people in a mass-casualty situation. The following quote by ACS highlights the need for increased efficiency: "Disaster management poses chal- lenges that are distinct from normal surgical practice. It requires a paradigm change from the application of unlimited resources for the greatest good of each indi- vidual patient, to the allocation of limited resources for the greatest good of the greatest number of casualties." 22 GEO W ORLD / OCTOBER 2O11 Disaster Management