The health care facilities closest to the disaster will always be the most impacted.
80-90% of victims will likely arrive without EMS intervention; usually to the closest hospital. In the Japanese Subway Sarin Disaster, less than 10% of the 5000 victims arrived by EMS.
Maldistribution of patients is the norm. Hospitals geographically close will often be overwhelmed before even a single patient is seen in more distal hospitals. It is VITAL that EMS be aware of the status of each individual emergency department to avoid maldistribution.
Research has shown that unless the disaster is geographically isolated or there are trapped victims, almost all casualties will get to a hospital within 2 hours.
Casualties tend to arrive in two waves
First Wave: Appears within 30 minutes of the disaster. Composed largely of walking wounded, and victims that are able to self extricate.
Second Wave: Begins at 30-60 minutes. These are mostly Priority 1 and 2 victims. These are victims which require ambulance transport.
Move to the Next Tutorial topic....Overview of the UAH plan