Disaster preparedness: Experience from a smoke inhalation mass casualty incident.
OBJECTIVE
We describe a modified triage system used in managing a smoke inhalation mass casualty incident that we recently encountered at our community hospital.


METHODS
The patients were triaged as priority 1, 2 or 3 on the basis of their symptoms, signs and circumstances at scene. In addition, the use of fibre-optic examinations of the upper airway, chest radiography and carboxyhaemoglobin levels with arterial blood gas analyses were used to aid in disposal plans.


RESULTS
Of the 22 patients evacuated, 15 were triaged as priority 2 and the remaining seven as priority 3. None of the patients was identified as priority 1. All the priority 2 patients underwent further investigations. Those with mild upper airway oedema (four patients) or raised carboxyhaemoglobin levels (two patients) were admitted. Only one patient had both. Another patient who was a known asthmatic developed bronchospasm and was admitted as well. All six were admitted to the general ward with subsequent good recovery and were discharged within 3 days. The remaining nine priority 2 and seven priority 3 patients were discharged from the emergency department.


CONCLUSIONS
These modified triage criteria, with selective use of fibre-optic examinations, chest radiography and arterial blood gas analyses with carboxyhaemoglobin levels, are useful in smoke inhalation mass casualty incidents without dermal burns. Systemic injury and poisoning by toxic fumes often coexist with airway burns and should not be overlooked. Lastly, disaster planning and frequent drills at both local and national levels will optimize the response to future mass casualty incidents.
Goh
Siang-Hiong
SH
Accident and Emergency Department, Changi General Hospital, Singapore, Republic of Singapore. Siang-Hiong-Goh@cgh.com.sg
Tiah
Ling
L
Lim
Hoon-Chin
HC
Ng
Elaine Kim-Choon
EK
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D001999:Bronchoscopy; D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin / Q000378:metabolism; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration*; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods* / Q000592:standards; D006301:Health Services Needs and Demand; D006302:Health Services Research; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006769:Hospitals, General; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008875:Middle Aged; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D010343:Patient Admission / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D012846:Singapore; D015208:Smoke Inhalation Injury / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy*; D014218:Triage / Q000458:organization & administration*
D002263:Carboxyhemoglobin