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Modern Military Mass Casualty Response: A Qualitative Study From Medical Responders in the Ukraine Conflict
Amy Follmer Hildreth1, Rebekah Cole1,2, Cynthia Shen1
1Department of Military and Emergency Medicine, https://ror.org/04r3kq386Uniformed Services University, United States.
Objective:
To explore the experiences of military medical first responders managing mass casualty incidents (MCIs) during the ongoing conflict in Ukraine to identify key challenges and insights.
Methods:
This qualitative study employed in-depth, semi-structured interviews with medical first responders who managed MCIs in Ukraine. Thematic analysis was leveraged by our research team to identify recurring themes and patterns within the interview data.
Results:
Our results revealed crucial takeaways related to the (1) need for preparedness and training, (2) variability of triage, (3) importance of communication and teamwork, and (4) the resulting psychological strain.
Conclusions:
These firsthand accounts offer valuable lessons for identifying challenges of first responders, developing areas of future research for MCI response strategies, and enhancing the readiness and well-being of medical first responders in current and future conflicts.
