The Hyatt Regency skywalk collapse: an EMS-based disaster response

Area of Science:

• Disaster medicine
• Emergency medical services
• Public health preparedness

Background:

• The Hyatt Regency skywalk collapse on July 17, 1981, presented a significant challenge to Kansas City's emergency medical services (EMS).
• The incident involved mass casualties, with 113 fatalities and 188 severely injured patients.

Purpose of the Study:

• To analyze the effectiveness of the existing EMS-based, centralized, city-wide disaster plan during the Hyatt Regency skywalk collapse.
• To identify factors contributing to the success and shortcomings of the rescue operation.

Main Methods:

• The rescue operation was divided into three phases: initial response, onset triage, and delayed extrication.
• A critical review of the response was conducted to evaluate performance and identify areas for improvement.

Main Results:

• Success factors included the centralized urban location, short transport times, coordinated ambulance dispatch, availability of advanced life support (ALS) resources, and mutual aid.
• Identified shortcomings included poor on-scene communication, lack of physician bystander control, and inadequate identification of key personnel.

Conclusions:

• A flexible, well-organized disaster response plan is crucial for effectively managing mass casualty incidents.
• The incident highlighted the importance of clear communication, defined roles, and robust support systems, including psychological aftermath care, in disaster response.