• Kristina Stølen Ugelvik, Øyvind Thomassen, Geir Sverre Braut, Thomas Geisner, Janecke Engeberg Sjøvold, Joakim Agri, and Carl Montan.
• University of Bergen, Bergen, Norway. kristina.stolen.ugelvik@helse-bergen.no.
• Eur J Trauma Emerg Surg. 2024 Jun 1; 50 (3): 945957945-957.

PurposeTo investigate prehospital preparedness work for Mass Casualty Incidents (MCI) and Major Incidents (MI) in Norway.MethodA national cross-sectional descriptive study of Norway's prehospital MI preparedness through a web-based survey. A representative selection of Rescue and Emergency Services were included, excluding Non-Governmental Organisations and military. The survey consisted of 59 questions focused on organisation, planning, education/training, exercises and evaluation.ResultsTotally, 151/157 (96%) respondents answered the survey. The results showed variance regarding contingency planning for MCI/MI, revisions of the plans, use of national triage guidelines, knowledge requirements, as well as haemostatic and tactical first aid skills training. Participation in interdisciplinary on-going life-threatening violence (PLIVO) exercises was high among Ambulance, Police and Fire/Rescue Emergency Services. Simulations of terrorist attacks or disasters with multiple injured the last five years were reported by 21/151 (14%) on a regional level and 74/151 (48%) on a local level. Evaluation routines after MCI/MI events were reported by half of the respondents (75/151) and 70/149 (47%) described a dedicated function to perform such evaluation.ConclusionThe study indicates considerable variance and gaps among Prehospital Rescue and Emergency Services in Norway regarding MCI/MI preparedness work, calling for national benchmarks, minimum requirements, follow-up routines of the organisations and future reassessments. Implementation of mandatory PLIVO exercises seems to have contributed to interdisciplinary exercises between Fire/Rescue, Police and Ambulance Emergency Service. Repeated standardised surveys can be a useful tool to assess and follow-up the MI preparedness work among Prehospital Rescue and Emergency Services at a national, regional and local level.© 2023. The Author(s).

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