In reflecting on the tragedy of this weekend, what is remarkable is that NO ONE has a single bad thing to say about the emergency response to the Joes River accident. I commented on this to a doctor that I know and received a bit of an earful. Most persons do not know that Barbados has a very detailed, very well thought out system for dealing with mass casualty events. In the recent past it has been used most frequently for accidents involving ZR’s. Sunday was by far the most serious incident that it has been used for.
Praise for mass casualty operation
In a fascinating conversation, the doctor noted that the mass casualty procedures have been polished and honed during the run up to Cricket World Cup, with practice runs for everything up to and including a plane crash. The plans integrate all aspects of the response teams from the Defence Force to the hospital. So when the $**t hits the fan everyone moves in concert and there’s no tripping over each other despite there being personnel from more than half a dozen agencies on the incident site.
I’m particularly impressed that a review process is being automatically done with a debriefing of the participants, and that counselling has been put into place for not just the victims but the first responders as well.
For showing amazing grace under inhuman pressure, very well done guys!
Marginal
Notes From The Margin 
Sounds as if our boys are on top of their game.
Comment by Carib — July 31, 2007 @ 10:04 am |
I hear 3 more ppl died in St Peter 2day under similar circumstances?
Comment by Ian Bourne — August 1, 2007 @ 6:54 pm |
The latest reports on the media is that a fourth person has died, at the hospital. This was an accident between a Suzuki van and a bus. From what I understand a number of the victims were children.
Marginal
Comment by notesfromthemargin — August 2, 2007 @ 12:52 am |
[…] Notes From The Margin was full of praise for Barbados’ emergency services, “for showing amazing grace under inhuman pressure”: “Most persons do not know that Barbados has a very detailed, very well thought out system for dealing with mass casualty events. In the recent past it has been used most frequently for accidents involving ZR’s. Sunday was by far the most serious incident that it has been used for…I’m particularly impressed that a review process is being automatically done with a debriefing of the participants, and that counselling has been put into place for not just the victims but the first responders as well.” […]
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