The Experience of the National Hospital of Sri Lanka

in

Management of Mass Casualties during major incidents

Dr. Hector WeerasingheDirector – National Hospital of Sri Lanka

Sri Lanka

• Sri Lanka is an island in the Indian Ocean and is popularly known as the

“Pearl of the Indian Ocean”

Population – 19 million

Common Disasters in Sri Lanka• Natural

Floods

Drought

Landslides• Man Made

Terrorist instigated events eg. Bomb blasts

Major accidents

Civil unrest

National Hospital of Sri Lanka

Profile • Bed strength – 3,000

• No. of wards – 72

• No. of OR – 28

• No of ICU – 15

• No. of employees – 6,500

Damage causedin recent disasters

• No. of incidents - 35

• No. injured in each incident – 200 – 1500

• No. killed – 20 - 200

Emergency response plan of the National Hospital

• Disaster team, rapid response team, stockpiling of medical supplies

• Information – to reconfirm and obtain further information

• Activation of disaster plan

• Send ambulances and medical team to site - triage

Emergency response plan of the National Hospital – cont’d

• Prepare to receive casualties

• Strengthen security in and around hospital

• Alert different units of hospital

• Reception of casualties – triage

• Identification and registration of patients

Emergency response plan of the National Hospital – cont’d

• Information to public - relatives

• Information to press

• Identification and registration of patients

• Patients property

Emergency response plan of the National Hospital – cont’d

• Crowd control• Hospital property• Curfew• Donations• Psychological support• Early action to replace disaster stock• Post disaster review

Strengths

•Dedication of people involved

•Training

•Availability of resources

•Emergency planning

Weaknesses

• Lack of proper ambulance service

• Lack of facilities for rehabilitation

• Too many on-lookers