Mass casualty alert program

The occupational health nurse has professional responsibility to be prepared to provide proper reaction if a major crisis should occur. A mass casualty alert program enables the nurse to meet that responsibility. But the nurse cannot do this all alone. There must be a comprehensive, cooperative plan which involves the entire plant. All interested groups, of course, should have individual plans. However, they should all be interrelated as a part of a totally coordinated plan. The mass casualty alert program should clearly indicate who is in charge, with alternates designating who is responsible for what. Things to remember in maintaining the program include: 1. There must be an up-to-date mass casualty alert program. 2. There must be total involvement. a. Ambulance--list should be up-to-date. b. Hospitals--list and capabilities should be up-to-date. c. Other Community Emergency Facilities--e.g., helicopter ambulance list should be up-to-date. d. Plant Management--fully informed and supportive of program. e. Communication--everyone involved should know what to do in-plant. f. Equipment and supplies should be ready at all times. There must also be disaster drills with simulated casualties. There should also be formal critiques of the drills to point out the weak points as well as the strong. This program will be very effective if planned ahead and carried out in this manner, either in a small plant with a small number of employees or a large complex with many employees, such as ours.