Approach to harmonisation of technological solutions, operating procedures, preparedness and cross-sectorial collaboration opportunities for first aid response in cross-border mass-casualty incidents

This paper focuses on identifying possible approaches to harmonising technological solutions, operative procedures, preparedness and cross-sectorial collaboration in the case of cross-border Mass Casualty Incidents (MCI). It presents some of the results obtained in the framework of the VALKYRIES project (Harmonisation and Pre-Standardization of Equipment, Training and Tactical Coordinated Procedures for First Aid Vehicles Deployment on European Multi-Victim Disasters). The first part of the paper presents and analyses the current situation concerning the technological solutions in support of first aid responders, the usual operative procedures and protocols in place, the existing Education and Training (E&T) courses, and the status of cross-border and cross-sectorial cooperation. The second part of the paper summarises identified capability gaps and needs of the first responders (e.g., medical emergency services, firefighters, civil protection authorities, police, military units, and local authorities) in the technologies domain, operative procedures, preparedness and collaboration for effective implementation of their tasks in a cross-border MCI. The third part summarises the prioritised harmonisation opportunities in the above-discussed technological, procedural, E&T and collaboration domains. Finally, some conclusions and next steps are formulated.