Major incident patient evacuation: full-scale field exercise feasibility study

Major incident management relies on efficient patient transportation. In the absence of a standardized, field-friendly approach to multiple casualty management, the Norwegian Air Ambulance Foundation developed Optimal Patient Evacuation Norway (OPEN). OPEN aims to save time, improve patient handling, prevent hypothermia, and simplify scene management. We evaluated the feasibility of the OPEN concept in full-scale major incident field exercises.

Emergency service personnel participated in two standardized bus crash field exercises, without and with access to OPEN. The instructors timed completion of patient evacuation, and the students participated in a self-report before and after study. Each question was scored on a 7-point Likert scale, with points labeled "Did not work" (1) through "Worked excellently" (7).

Among the 93 study participants, 31% confirmed that stretchers could be available at the scene within 30 minutes in their catchment area. The students reported improved interdisciplinary cooperation for patient evacuation after the course (mean, 5.8, with 95% CI 5.7-6.0 after vs. 5.4 with 95% CI 5.2-5.6 before, P < .001).

OPEN is a feasible and time-efficient way to standardize patient transport and may serve as a candidate for a future national standard for major incident patient evacuation.