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TRIAGE AFTER TERROR ATTACKS
Triage decisions made during terrorist attacks can be inaccurate, according to a recent retrospective report (
) . The triage classification of patients in two large terrorist bombings made by experienced clinicians was compared to a retrospectively applied Injury Severity Score and Israeli Defence Forces injury severity score. The results of this paper raise interesting questions about the validity of field triage. However, as the authors concede, triage is a dynamic process, which is often performed in seconds in extreme circumstances.
STOPPING PREHOSPITAL RESUSCITATION
Identifying when it is reasonable to stop resuscitation attempts in the field following out of hospital cardiac arrest is an important issue. Three out of hospital termination of resuscitation rules were assessed in a Canadian study (
) . Analysis of prospectively collected data revealed high sensitivity and negative predictive value of all three rules, but specificity and transport rates varied greatly.
BURN FIRST AID
Knowledge of burn first aid treatment was tested in an Australian study (
) . Health care workers and non-health care workers were questioned about the immediate management of four clinical burns scenarios. Reassuringly, perhaps, correct responses …