Disaster Preparedness

Resources (Click on the links below to access the Advanced Disaster Medical Response Course, or the Trauma Resource Library)

Advanced Disaster Medical Response Course (members only)

Disaster Preparedness Resource Library (members only)

DISASTER PREPAREDNESS

"Impact of a Terrorist Attack on Individual Trauma Centers"
CDC Grant CDC-RFA-05-100

The TCAA has been awarded a grant from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to study the "Impact of a Terrorist Attack on Individual Trauma Centers." This research opportunity was based on the Madrid train incident of 2004 and evidence that the major threats facing U.S. communities will likely be from conventional weapons or suicide bombers. The tragedy in London in summer 2005 emphasized the risks to communities where trauma care is not adequately coordinated and well organized or trauma centers are facing economic shortfalls or resource shortages.

The study includes an inventory of Level I and II trauma centers and the key characteristics of preparedness in the event of a blast type terror attack, including an attack with the potential for biological, chemical, nuclear agents and other hazards. The TCAA will disseminate the findings and materials collected from the selected well prepared Trauma Centers to all of the nation's centers and agencies responsible for trauma systems in CD-ROM format as well as establish a web page from which key documents can be downloaded to help prepare hospitals for all types of mass casualty situations.

The Principal Investigator, Donald Trunkey of OHSU (OR) has conducted numerous research projects. He is assisted in this project by Co-PI's Mark Ackermann, CCO of the St. Vincent Catholic Medical Centers (NY), Ron Anderson, CEO of Parkland Memorial Hospital (TX) and David Jaffe, CEO of Harborview Medical Center (WA). These Investigators have assembled an impressive Advisory Committee who have closely been involved in the development of the Trauma Center inventory tool and selection of the Highly Prepared Hospitals and Best Preparedness Practice Hospitals. 

Click below for TCAA's final report:

U.S. Trauma Center Preparedness for a Terrorist Attack in the Community:
"The Study of the Impact of a Terrorist Attack on Individual Trauma Centers"

For more information on this report, permission to reprint, or for copies,
please contact us.

Other Links:

Hurricane Katrina:
Hospital Decision Making in the Wake of Katrina - The Case of New Orleans

CDC's Mass Casualties Link on Blast Injury Facts

HSTodayMagazine

The Grant Principal Investigators and Advisory Committee members are: