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  • Title: The Fort Hood Massacre: Lessons learned from a high profile mass casualty.
    Author: Wild J, Maher J, Frazee RC, Craun ML, Davis ML, Childs EW, Smith RW.
    Journal: J Trauma Acute Care Surg; 2012 Jun; 72(6):1709-13. PubMed ID: 22695445.
    Abstract:
    BACKGROUND: On November 5, 2009, an army psychiatrist at Fort Hood in Killeen, TX, allegedly opened fire at the largest US military base in the world, killing 13 and wounding 32. METHODS: Data from debriefing sessions, news media, and area hospitals were reviewed. RESULTS: Ten patients were initially transferred to the regional Level I trauma center. The remainder of the shooting victims were triaged to two other local regional hospitals. National news networks broadcasted the Level I trauma center's referral phone line which resulted in more than 1,300 calls. The resulting difficulties in communication led to the transfer of two victims (one critical) to a regional hospital without a trauma designation. CONCLUSIONS: Triage at the scene was compromised by a lack of a secure environment, leading to undertriage of several patients. Overload of routine communication pathways compounded the problem, suggesting redundancy is crucial. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Prognostic study, level V.
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