The Initial Response to the Boston Marathon Bombing: Lessons Learned to Prepare for the Next Disaster

• 2014

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• Jonathan Gates; Sandra Arabian; Paul Biddinger; Joe Blansfield; Peter Burke; Sarita Chung
PMID: 25386862DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097%2FSLA.0000000000000914

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About

This report describes the medical response to the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013, highlighting how quick actions, preparation, and teamwork led to good outcomes for many injured people. It shares lessons learned from this event to help prepare for future disasters. Key points include fast transport of patients, effective use of tourniquets, and coordinated care at hospitals. It also emphasizes the importance of training and planning for emergencies to save lives during mass casualty incidents like bombings or other large-scale events. It may serve as a template for other institutions to assess their capabilities to respond to similar events in the future. This resource is related to a PPN podcast titled "Disaster Gap."

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Tags

Hazards: CBRNE; Trauma; Violence

Audiences: Emergency Managers; EMS Clinicians; Nurses; Physicians

Emergency Management Stage: Response

Collection: Disaster Research Literature Review

Keywords: Boston; Disaster Planning; Emergency Medical Services; Explosions; Terrorism; Wounds and Injuries; Bombs; Mass Casualty Incidents; Emergency Responders

Institutions: Brigham and Women's Hospital; Tufts Medical Center; Massachusetts General Hospital; Boston Medical Center; Boston Children's Hospital

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