Beyond A to E: addressing the unfamiliar issues arising in the acute and immediate phase post-catastrophe

Abstract

During a time in which there is increased focus on level 5 and 6 prehospital emergency care provision and utilisation in the deployed military space, it is important to consider the range of care that more junior medical practitioners may be exposed to. The initial response to a catastrophe at a level pertaining to General Duties Medical Officers or similar forward-deployed tri-service personnel comprises acute care and triage skills, which are widely taught through prehospital courses and Foundation training. However, beyond that, the necessary workload becomes less clear. To provide comprehensive care in-theatre, there is the need to consider more nuanced and unfamiliar issues such as components in the immediate postcatastrophe landscape. These include aspects such as care of human remains, mental health, chronic conditions in the acute phase and the scope of military medical assistance within the wider relief effort. This is a paper commissioned as a part of the Humanitarian and Disaster Relief Operations special issue of BMJ Military Health.