Abstract
Mass gatherings are unique events carrying the potential to severely strain public health planning and infrastructures by triggering the entire emergency mechanism of a community or nation. That is mostly the case in terrorist attacks, an overwhelming, though not the most common health-related hazard in mass gatherings. The implementation of a protective mechanism against such threats is pronouncedly cumbersome and requires a complex administrative strategy, detailed operational planning and also a deep interoperability of the major health and homeland security stakeholders. That can be accomplished with an Incident Command System that affords organizational guidelines and flexible tactical planning, which refer to actions undertaken before, during and after the incident. The main challenges before the health incident are named preparedness, surveillance, incident action plans, environmental health/food safety and personnel training; the objectives to be achieved during the main phase of the incident are communication, response, dispensing planning and interoperability. Of the post-incident phase, the most important objectives are the mental first aid provision and the transparent key-messages of post hazard communication.
Highlights
Mass gatherings (MGs) are defined as organized or spontaneous concentrations of a great number of people with common features which bring them together at a specific location and for a defined period of time [1,2]
Terrorist attacks Concerning in particular the terrorist attacks in MGs, the major health care challenges are generally the following: Attacks are often sudden, violent and involve multiple hits overflowing and disorganizing existing health facilities, with massive casualties and critical injuries to an enormous number of victims; radiological, chemical or biological threats are probable, which further enhance public anxiety
The major involved stakeholders are the organizers of the MG event, the low enforcement authorities and public health agencies
Summary
Mass gatherings (MGs) are defined as organized or spontaneous concentrations of a great number of people with common features (political, social, religious, sports, etc.) which bring them together at a specific (relatively confined) location and for a defined (mostly short) period of time [1,2]. Terrorist attacks Concerning in particular the terrorist attacks in MGs, the major health care challenges are generally the following: Attacks are often sudden, violent and involve multiple hits overflowing and disorganizing existing health facilities, with massive casualties and critical injuries to an enormous number of victims; radiological, chemical or biological threats are probable (or speculated), which further enhance public anxiety. They provoke a widespread of panic, mostly through social media and -even worse- often in global live broadcast. The implementation of a protective mechanism against those threats is pronouncedly cumbersome and requires a complex administrative strategy, a detailed operational planning and a deep interoperability of the major health and homeland security stakeholders [11]
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