Citation

Silverstein ME. Terrorism 1977; 1(1): 51-69.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1977)

DOI

10.1080/10576107708435396

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

The role of a special medical rescue system designed to limit the number of casualties as a result of various terrorist incidents has been described. The rescue system is based on studies which indicate that, despite the large variety of terrorist weaponry, there is a common model of injury that permits design of a simplified, economic, hierarchical medical rescue model. Medical rescue is seen as an essential, highly flexible element in the choreography of antiterrorist efforts. A medical rescue system can be devised based on three basic concepts: (1) Common Injury Model, (2) Common Physiological Response Model, and (3) Common Resuscitation Model. This essential life support, carried on by personnel who are members of the storming team, is designed to be followed by onsite portable intensive care, portable surgery, and adequate evacuation. The implications of a medical rescue force to terrorist, negotiator, and decision maker as well as the public's acceptance of the role of the protective professions are discussed. A schema for a local, national, and international medical rescue organization with intelligence, resource allocation, communication, and transportation aspects is proposed.

Language: en