" While it is true that some plane crashes cannot be prevented, there are measures that can be taken to ensure that when a crash does occur, the proper help gets to the scene in time.
The first secondary measure for a plane crash is "Foster informed, empowered individuals and communities." Whether the witness of a crash is a doctor or a hospital secretary, everyone can play a role in assisting at the scene. If nothing else, the person can call authorities and report the crash. For hospital staff, education in basic first-aid is standard at most hospitals and this includes sufficient knowledge to aid a victim in stopping bleeding or splinting a leg.
The second measure is "Develop and maintain the workforce needed for national health security." With most hospitals understaffed, there is a real need for more nurses in the event of an emergency. Otherwise, a nearby hospital will be unable to take sufficient victims.
The third measure is "Foster integrated, scalable health care delivery systems." Each city should be mapped out by quadrants identifying the hospitals and facilities within each area and those hospital's specialties if applicable. For instance, if a certain hospital in the area has a superior burn ward, then the burn victims should be sent to that particular facility.
Finally, there are tertiary goals that should be met during a crash. Tertiary goals:
Tertiary prevention involves providing appropriate supportive and rehabilitative services to minimize morbidity and maximize quality of life, such as rehabilitation from injuries. It includes preventing secondary complications among individuals with disabilities, such as shoulder overuse syndrome among wheelchair users or bedsores among those confined to bed.
In other words, these goals are not vital at the time of the accident, but should be in place for after the fact. They ensure continued care of the victims and reflection for the...
This information can be used to improve maintenance and inspection requirements of airplanes to help ensure the same type of crash does not happen again.
The second goal is "Incorporate postincident health recovery into planning and response." Burn victims and those with serious injuries could be in recovery and rehabilitation for as long as a year after the crash. There must be a system in place at hospitals to offer comprehensive treatment and rehabilitation assistance.
The final goal is "Work with cross-border and global partners to enhance national, continental, and global health security." Unfortunately, the world has become a much more dangerous place for passengers and some crashes are not caused by mechanical failures. In these incidents it is vital that the international community work together to ensure the public's safety.
Works Cited
Baker S, Brady J, Shanahan D, Guohua L (2009). Aviation-Related Injury Morbidity and Mortality: Data from U.S. Health Information Systems. Aviat Space Environ Med, 80(12): 1001-5.
Center for Disease Control (1992). A Framework for Assessing the Effectiveness of Disease and Injury Prevention. Accessed on 30 April 2012 at http://www.cdc.gov/mmwr/preview/mmwrhtml/00016403.htm
Chaturvedi a, Smith D, Canfield D (2001). Blood carbon monoxide and hydrogen cyanide concentrations in the fatalities of fire and non-fire associated civil aviation accidents, 1991 -- 1998. Forensic Science International, 121(3): 183-88.
Gouhua, Li & Baker, Susan (1997). Injury Patterns in Aviation-Related Fatalities: Implications for Preventive Strategies. American Journal of Forensic Medicine & Pathology, 18(3): 265-270.
