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Black Saturday: the immediate impact of the February 2009 bushfires in Victoria, Australia
Author(s) -
Cameron Peter A,
Mitra Biswadev,
Fitzgerald Mark,
Scheinkestel Carlos D,
Stripp Andrew,
Batey Chris,
Niggemeyer Louise,
Truesdale Melinda,
Holman Paul,
Mehra Rishi,
Wasiak Jason,
Cleland Heather
Publication year - 2009
Publication title -
medical journal of australia
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1326-5377
pISSN - 0025-729X
DOI - 10.5694/j.1326-5377.2009.tb02666.x
Subject(s) - triage , referral , medicine , medical emergency , surge capacity , major trauma , emergency medicine , occupational safety and health , emergency department , emergency management , injury prevention , suicide prevention , poison control , family medicine , covid-19 , nursing , disease , pathology , infectious disease (medical specialty) , political science , law
Objective: To examine the response of the Victorian State Trauma System to the February 2009 bushfires. Design and setting: A retrospective review of the strategic response required to treat patients with bushfire‐related injury in the first 72 hours of the Victorian bushfires that began on 7 February 2009. Emergency department (ED) presentations and initial management of patients presenting to the state's adult burns centre (The Alfred Hospital [The Alfred]) were analysed, as well as injuries and deaths associated with the fires. Results: There were 414 patients who presented to hospital EDs as a result of the bushfires. Patients were triaged at the emergency scene, at treatment centres and in hospital. National and statewide burns disaster plans were activated. Twenty‐two patients with burns presented to the state's burns referral centres, of whom 18 were adults. Adult burns patients at The Alfred spent 48.7 hours in theatre in the first 72 hours. There were a further 390 bushfire‐related ED presentations across the state in the first 72 hours. Most patients with serious burns were triaged to and managed at burns referral centres. Throughout the disaster, burns referral centres continued to have substantial surge capacity. Conclusions: Most bushfire victims either died, or survived with minor injuries. As a result of good prehospital triage and planning, the small number of patients with serious burns did not overload the acute health care system.