The Management of Mass Casualty Incidends in Germany

This study examines the management of major incidents in Germany. Over the last decade Germany has developed a successful approach to incident response. The study argues that the `transformation of war (van Creveld) from traditional war to modern low intensity conflicts/ terrorism led to a `transformation of civil defence. A total quality approach to incident response leads to the development of audit tools for structural, procedural, and outcome quality. The outcomes compare favourably to that of paramedic systems. The study describes the components of the German model (incident command system, resources, structures, &) in detail. Two case studies (air show disaster, Ramstein 1988; ICE train crash, Eschede 1998) show how these concepts evolved. The book will interest emergency planners and responders alike. It also is a useful guide for armed forces medical staff deploying to Germany.