Booby-trapped patients?

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I attended a trauma seminar over the weekend. One of the speakers was a retired police officer/Law Enforcement instructor who spoke about first responders and their roles in patient care before they reach the hospital. He warned about "booby-trapped bodies." These are victims who have been left for first responders/ED to attend to, who have an explosive device PLANTED inside their open body cavity. The terrorist finds a victim, cuts open a body cavity, inserts a grenade with the pin pulled, bandages the wound which holds the trigger mechanism in place, and when a medical worker opens the bandage, the grenade goes off.

Apparently this terrorist technique has been used in wars overseas, and the speaker feels it is only a matter of time until it is used here. I am having a hard time buying this, although at the same time, we never could have imagined someone crashing two planes into WTC.

Has anyone else heard of this? It just sounds so awful I cannot wrap my brain around it.

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Specializes in ICU,PCU,ER, TELE,SNIFF, STEP DOWN PCT.
I attended a trauma seminar over the weekend. One of the speakers was a retired police officer/Law Enforcement instructor who spoke about first responders and their roles in patient care before they reach the hospital. He warned about "booby-trapped bodies." These are victims who have been left for first responders/ED to attend to, who have an explosive device PLANTED inside their open body cavity. The terrorist finds a victim, cuts open a body cavity, inserts a grenade with the pin pulled, bandages the wound which holds the trigger mechanism in place, and when a medical worker opens the bandage, the grenade goes off.

Apparently this terrorist technique has been used in wars overseas, and the speaker feels it is only a matter of time until it is used here. I am having a hard time buying this, although at the same time, we never could have imagined someone crashing two planes into WTC.

Has anyone else heard of this? It just sounds so awful I cannot wrap my brain around it.

Yes it is as we were warned long ago, that this happens and a matter of time before here. Every Paramedic. EMT and PD, and Firefighter is taught to watch everything and be careful and believe me I have even been in drug houses booby trapped. So this is not surprising.

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I remember a couple of friends who were combat medics in Viet Nam saying it was pretty common there. So I would not be surprised if it was used as a terrorist tactic now.

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OMG.

Lord Almighty.

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Specializes in ICU,PCU,ER, TELE,SNIFF, STEP DOWN PCT.
I remember a couple of friends who were combat medics in Viet Nam saying it was pretty common there. So I would not be surprised if it was used as a terrorist tactic now.

True my husband was a Army Medic too and said the same thing along with some friends from Viet Nam

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There are allot of things to assess when responding to a terrorist incident. My only hope is that people approach this with common sense and refrain from scaring themselves to death with every detail.

Terrorists do not have to go to great lengths or work that hard to stir us up. Just look how often our terror alert is increased.

While I am sure this is a technique used, I hope we can look at the big picture and see the forest through the trees. I can see somebody reacting by placing bomb rooms in every hospital or some such action in response to this information.

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Specializes in Med-Surg/Peds/O.R./Legal/cardiology.

Terrorists have a total disregard for life--even their own, so I'm not surprised. We've had it pretty "cushy" in this country and I think we are in for a rude awakening before long. (just my .02)

ebear

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Specializes in Flight, ER, Transport, ICU/Critical Care.

I went through CONTOMS training in 1995 and this was addressed generally. So, this is not a new issue.

Now, do I think about it? Yes. But, not in a general context. IF the situation demands it - I am there!

Terrorists primary weapon is FEAR.

I will continue to operate in a manner that is SAFE for myself, my partner/pilot and my patient. End of story.

Am I SAFE? Yes.

Am I DELIBERATE? Always.

Practice SAFE!

;)

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Specializes in Jack of all trades, and still learning.

I've never heard of that! I hope I never see it. Most of us live in such a cloistered world...

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