Can someone please tell me about disaster drills?

[iliket3]

I have looked for this info everywhere and it is nowhere to be found in any of my texts or study guides. What is the difference between an internal vs external disaster drill? Do you assess differently? Do you prioritize differently? I chose the highest priority patient for each but it couldn't have been correct because I kept getting more questions in the same category. Is there a website, book - somewhere I can learn about these. It was never even mentioned in school. Thanks for any information

[Katnip, RN]

Suzanne is correct. In a mass casualty incident you take your resources and spread them over the largest number of people you can. The opposite of what we usually do in a daily trauma situation.

In other words...if you've got 6 people with moderate injuries that can be covered by 4 care providers, and 1 person who will need a code or 4 or more providers, you take the 6 people first.

Yes, that means, sometimes, in a disaster you're going to have to turn your back on people you'd be able to help otherwise. Not an easy thing.

[chrysalus1003]

thanks, this really clears things up, and i know this will help tremendously on the nclex:) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :) :)