113 Not Another Mass Casualty: Using Simulation to Increase Physician Comfort With the Unique Challenges of Protest Medicine

Abstract

Sparked by the death of George Floyd, civil unrest and protest proliferated across the country in 2020. While most demonstrations were peaceful, 5% were marred by the use of tear gas, pepper spray, and rubber bullets to facilitate situation control. Many emergency physicians and residents participated in these protests and were at the front line when force was used and protesters were injured. Treating patients in this situation is dangerous and offers unique challenges that a typical residency curriculum in disaster medicine would not address.