Management of pediatric trauma: Blast victims in a mass casualty incident

Abstract

Mass casualty events are increasing both worldwide and domestically. The majority of our national experience with mass casualties has come from our military experience and several notable domestic events, including the Oklahoma City bombing and, more recently, the World Trade Center and Pentagon attacks. The objective of this paper is to review the lessons learned from these events and examine the strategies that have been developed to deal with such crises. The paper emphasizes the need for planning at both the regional and local level and stresses the need for effective communication within the trauma system. This paper reviews pediatric emergency center management during a mass casualty event, discusses the physics behind an explosion, and addresses the mechanisms of injury as well as their diagnosis and treatment especially as they relate to children.