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Operation of Emergency Operating Centers During Mass Casualty Incidents in Taiwan: A Disaster Management Perspective

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  15 September 2014

Jet-Chau Wen ,
Chia-Chou Tsai ,
Mei-Hsuan Chen  and
Wei-Ta Chang
Jet-Chau Wen
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Engineering Science and Technology, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Douliou, Yunlin
Chia-Chou Tsai*
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Engineering Science and Technology, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Douliou, Yunlin
Mei-Hsuan Chen
Affiliation:
Huatan Township Health Center, Huatan Township, Changhua County, Taiwan, Republic of China.
Wei-Ta Chang
Affiliation:
Graduate School of Engineering Science and Technology, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, Douliou, Yunlin
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Chia-Chou Tsai, Graduate School of Engineering Science and Technology, National Yunlin University of Science and Technology, 123 University Rd, Section 3, Douliou, Yunlin, Taiwan, ROC (e-mail: g9510816@yuntech.edu.tw).
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Abstract

Objective

On April 27, 2011, a train derailed and crashed in Taiwan, causing a mass casualty incident (MCI) that was similar to a previous event and with similar consequences. In both disasters, the emergency operating centers (EOCs) could not effectively integrate associated agencies to deal with the incident. The coordination and utilization of resources were inefficient, which caused difficulty in command structure operation and casualty evacuation.

Methods

This study was designed to create a survey questionnaire with problem items using disaster management phases mandated by Taiwan’s Emergency Medical Care Law (EMCL), use statistical methods (t test) to analyze the results and issues the EOCs encountered during the operation, and propose solutions for those problems.

Results

Findings showed that EOCs lacked authority to intervene or coordinate with associated agencies. Also, placing emphasis on the recovery phase should improve future prevention and response mechanisms.

Conclusions

To improve the response to MCIs, the EMCL needs to be amended to give EOCs the lead during disasters; use feedback from the recovery phase to improve future disaster management and operation coordination; and establish an information-sharing platform across agencies to address all aspects of relief work.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014;0:1-6)

Keywords

disaster managementemergency medical service systememergency operation centersmass casualty incidents
Type
Concepts in Disaster Medicine
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 8 , Issue 5 , October 2014 , pp. 426 - 431
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2014 

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