The event underscored the critical need for specialized treatment and coordinated efforts during such incidents, which often require long-distance transportation and international collaboration for effective care.
The discussions drew on the 2015 Colectiv Club fire tragedy in Bucharest, Romania, which resulted in 64 deaths and left 156 people injured, with 88 requiring mechanical ventilation. The webinar explored the key lessons learned from this devastating incident, as well as ongoing efforts by the European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (ERCC) and the World Health Organization (WHO) to address the complexities of burn casualty management.
Safety Failures: Poor adherence to safety measures by the club owners significantly contributed to the scale of the tragedy. The incident revealed the need for more stringent safety protocols and better preparedness in public venues.
"No Regret Policy": Following the tragedy, a "no regret policy" was implemented in dispatch operations. This policy prioritizes dispatching resources early and canceling unnecessary ones, ensuring quicker responses to emergencies.
Unified Dispatch Systems: A single dispatch system for all emergency resources was highlighted as critical to managing such large-scale events effectively.
On-Site Response Challenges: The ad-hoc team from a nearby maternity’s anaesthesia department contributed to the field response, but the large-scale auto evacuation of victims complicated the coordination and control of patients arriving at hospitals.
Patient Transfer and International Cooperation: Due to the severe burn injuries, several patients were transferred to hospitals with specialized burn treatment capacity, and five countries ultimately accepted patients. This highlighted the need for cross-border cooperation in managing mass burn incidents.
The European Civil Protection and Humanitarian Aid (ERCC) coordinates responses to mass burn incidents across Europe. The webinar discussed the ERCC's role in facilitating mass evacuations, including the collaboration with NATO resources to reduce flight times during medical evacuations (medevac) for burn victims in Romania. It was emphasized that efficient coordination with health authorities and clear protocols are essential before and during the incident.
Civil-Military Cooperation: The response involved civil-military cooperation, with Romanian government aircraft and NATO resources being mobilized for patient transfers. This required close coordination among various government agencies.
Burn Assessment Teams: Essential to the medevac process, burn assessment teams determine which patients are stable enough for transfer and prioritize evacuations. These teams are deployed by the ERCC and work closely with the WHO's Emergency Medical Teams (EMT) secretariat. The webinar highlighted the importance of these teams in ensuring the right decisions are made for patient transfers.
Funding and Coordination Challenges: The webinar also discussed the financial challenges that accompany large-scale medevac operations. Coordinating resources and securing funding at the outset is critical for smooth operations.
Media Criticism and Communication Issues: The response to the Colectiv Club incident also faced significant media scrutiny. A key point of contention was the decisions around medevac, which created communication difficulties with patients' families. The need for a more proactive media approach in future incidents was stressed to ensure clearer communication and prevent confusion.
The webinar underscored the complexity of managing mass burns incidents and the importance of preparedness, coordination, and effective communication across borders. The Colectiv tragedy provided valuable insights into how systems can be improved to respond more efficiently in future mass casualty events. As the WHO finalizes minimum standards for medevac operations, the need for better planning, coordination, and international collaboration remains crucial to saving lives in mass burn emergencies.