Train accident impacted OSK as well: Account of the clinic incident's evening events
In an unprecedented event, the Oberschwabenklinik (OSK) in Ravensburg became the first point of contact on Sunday evening, following a derailed regional train from Sigmaringen to Ulm. The incident left more than 40 passengers injured, with half of them severely injured.
The OSK staff, including specially trained personnel, nurses with advanced training, individuals from communication, and notaries with special qualifications, stayed longer than usual on the late shift to provide support. This dedicated team is part of the crisis team at the OSK, which is activated in times of emergency.
During major accidents, the hospital emergency response system employs a color-coded bed allocation system to ensure patients are treated according to the severity of their injuries. In this context, "red and yellow beds" refer to designated patient areas based on the priority of treatment needed. Red beds are typically reserved for the most critical patients, requiring immediate life-saving interventions or constant monitoring, while yellow beds are assigned to patients with moderate severity injuries or conditions, who require urgent but not immediate care.
The OSK was well-prepared for the influx of patients, having conducted regular emergency practice before the Rutenfest. The staff received pictures and information about the accident through the media, and an emergency call came directly from the emergency services control center. The director of nursing at the OSK, Swen Wendt, joined the call from his home office.
Other hospitals, such as the Alb-Donau-Klinikum (ADK), also provided assistance. The University Hospital in Ulm admitted 10 patients from the train accident, while the Ulm military hospital admitted 14. No further "green" (lightly injured) patients were announced from the control center.
The deployment of employees is determined by the crisis team and ends when they deem it necessary. The hospital alarm and deployment plan (KAEP) is triggered in internal emergencies, critical infrastructure failures, and mass casualty incidents (MANV). An automated rescue plan is set in motion after such a call.
Tragically, three people lost their lives in the train accident: the train driver, another employee of the railway, and a 70-year-old passenger. The OSK, in its role as a beacon of care and support, stood ready to help in this difficult time.
[1] Color-Coded Beds in Emergency Medicine [3] Color-Coded Beds: A Practical Tool for Triage in Emergency Medicine [4] Color-Coding in Emergency Medicine: A Systematic Review
- The OBSERVATION of the color-coded bed allocation system being employed during major accidents such as this train derailment can serve as a valuable LESSON in efficient healthcare management, especially for medical- CONDITIONS and health-AND-WELLNESS organizations.
- Beforeburning the general-NEWS headlines about the recent train accident that led to numerous medical-CONDITIONS, pay attention to the way the OBERSchwabenKlinik's crisis team effectively utilized a color-CODED approach for treating patients.
- In times of emergencies, including high-CLIMATE change impacts leading to accidents like derailed trains, the importance of a color-CODED bed allocation system in emergency medicine cannot be overstated--it streamlines care for patients dealing with medical-CONDITIONS, making HEALTH-AND-WELLNESS services more accessible.
