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Terrorist Stabbings-Distinctive Characteristics and How to Prepare for Them
Ofer Merin1, Roman Sonkin2, Avraham Yitzhak3
1Trauma Unit, Department of Cardiac Surgery, Shaare Zedek Medical Center, Hebrew University, Jerusalem, Israel.
The Journal of Emergency Medicine
|October 29, 2017
Summary
Terrorist stabbings cause more severe, multiple upper-body wounds than civilian incidents. Trauma units require specific preparation for mass casualties from these attacks.
Area of Science:
- Trauma surgery
- Emergency medicine
- Public health
Background:
- Terrorist attacks involving knives are increasing globally.
- Knife stabbings by terrorists present unique challenges compared to civilian incidents.
- Trauma units need distinct guidelines for mass casualty events from terror stabbings.
Purpose of the Study:
- To identify unique injury patterns in terrorist stabbings.
- To recommend preparedness strategies for trauma units.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective analysis of terrorist stabbing incidents (September 2015 - May 2016).
- Data sourced from Israeli national emergency medical services and military medical records.
Main Results:
- 161 stabbing incidents resulted in 414 civilian victims (34 fatalities).
- Approximately 60% of patients had multiple stab wounds; 40% of incidents involved multiple victims.
- Terrorist stabbings commonly targeted the upper body, used large knives with high force, and caused multiple severe injuries.
Conclusions:
- Significant differences exist between civilian and terrorist stab wounds.
- Trauma centers must prepare for mass admissions of patients with severe, penetrating knife injuries.