Easter Sri Lanka attack: My Experience at the Major Trauma Centre

On Easter Sunday, April 21, 2019, six deadly bomb assaults in opulent hotels and well-known churches in Sri Lanka's capital city occurred between 8:45 and 9:05 am local time. Churchgoers gathered for Easter Sunday services, and guests at Colombo's best hotels were the targets of suicide bombers. The terrorists killed at least 253 individuals and possibly more.

More than 500 people were hurt, mostly Sri Lankan residents. However, 35 foreigners, including Indians, Britons, and Americans, were also killed in the attacks. Following the suicide attacks, the entire country and the globe were in complete shock.

Mass Casualty Incident in Sri Lanka:

A situation that heavily burdens medical staff and resources is known as a Mass casualty incident (MCI), which happens more frequently than in disasters. This Easter Sri Lankan attack caused a Mass Casualty incident in Sri Lanka. Whether a situation is categorized as a medical catastrophe or MCI, it needs quick and efficient triage techniques. When a catastrophe strikes, the focus shifts from what is most beneficial to the individual patient to what is best for the most significant number of people to improve total patient outcomes. Medical practitioners must prioritize who will receive care and who won't. A thorough discussion of the moral issues surrounding distributing scarce medical resources is necessary. 

What I experienced as a Doctor at Major Trauma Centre in Colombo

The Doctors and healthcare workers in Sri Lanka faced an enormous task in dealing with the patients injured in the Easter Sri Lanka Attacks. We had to treat many patients with varying degrees of injuries, including those critically injured or in critical condition. 

Despite the challenges, Doctors and healthcare workers responded with great dedication and professionalism. We worked around the clock to provide medical care and support to the victims, often under challenging and stressful conditions. 

The patient's conditions varied from minor injuries to severe trauma, which included traumatic injuries to limbs, head injuries, Burns, excessive loss of blood, and other similar injuries caused by the blasts. Many people required extensive medical treatment and rehabilitation to recover from their injuries. 

The Sri Lankan government also launched a massive healthcare effort to help deal with the aftermath of the attacks. They deployed medical teams, ambulances, and other emergency resources to the affected Colombo city while also calling on international aid organizations for assistance. 

In addition to the physical injuries, many victims experienced significant psychological trauma due to the attacks. They were left with profound emotional scars that would require extensive mental health and psychosocial support to heal—in addition to providing medical treatment, doctors and healthcare workers also provided psychological care and support to the victims and their families. We worked to help people cope with the traumatic experiences sufferers had gone through and to overcome the long-term effects of their injuries. 

Physical Traumas Sufferers faced

The physical traumas victims suffered include:

1. Bone Fractures

Many victims suffered from bone fractures due to forceful impacts that caused a bone to fracture or break. Fractures ranged from hairline fractures to compound fractures where the bone punctures the skin. 

2. Dislocations

Dislocations occur when the bones that meet at a joint are forced out of position. This caused victims significant pain, swelling, and loss of morbidity. 

3. Soft tissue injuries

These include injury to muscles, ligaments, and tendons, which were strained or torn due to trauma. 

4. Amputations

Severe forceful trauma caused severe damage to limbs and extremities, which made the amputation necessary. 

5. Crush injuries

It occurs when the body is crushed between two objects or due to a sudden impact. Many people fell victim to this. 

6. Burns

Burns also occurred to them due to the direct heat of explosions or fires, which caused tissue damage and scarring.

7. Nerve damage

Trauma caused damage to nerves, leading to numbness, tingling, and even paralysis.

Head Injuries Patients got in Easter Sri Lanka Attack 

Head injuries are unfortunately common in bombing incidents, as happened in the Easter Sunday attacks in Sri Lanka. The injuries ranged from mild concussions to severe traumatic brain injuries caused by the explosion and shrapnel flying through the air. Some types of head injuries incidents included:

1. Concussions: 

Concussions are mild traumatic brain injuries caused by a blow to the head. People who sustained concussions experienced dizziness, confusion, headache, and nausea.

2. Contusions: 

Contusions are bruises on the brain caused by a direct blow to the head. Symptoms of contusions depended on the severity of the injury and caused headache, dizziness, and loss of consciousness.

3. Skull fractures: 

Many patients fractured their skulls due to the direct impact of a blast wave. 

4. Penetrating brain injuries: 

This type of injury occurred due to an object penetrating the skull, and brain tissue caused life-threatening damage. 

5. Traumatic brain injury (TBI): 

TBIs occur when the brain is jostled or shaken inside the skull, typically from a sudden jolt or impact. The severity of a TBI was from mild to severe and caused headaches, dizziness, and memory loss.

6. Hearing loss: 

Explosions caused them hearing loss and damage to the ears due to the loud noise and pressure wave produced by the blast.

Head injuries sustained in bombing incidents can have long-term consequences, including cognitive impairment, emotional disturbances, and chronic pain. Recovery depends on the type and severity of the injury and often requires extensive medical intervention and rehabilitation.

How I dealt with the injuries and sufferings of the Victims at the major trauma center

Handling patients with trauma requires a compassionate and comprehensive approach by medical professionals. Here are strategies for managing trauma patients and how I worked for them:

1. Ensured the patient's safety:

The first step in caring for trauma patients is ensuring their physical safety. I moved them to a safer location and stabilized any apparent injuries. Thus, we minimized the risk of further harm to the patient.

2. Assessed the patient's condition: 

Once the patient was safe, the next step I did was to assess their overall condition. This includes checking for any visible injuries, taking vital signs, and evaluating their level of consciousness.

3. Triage: 

In a Mass casualty situation, a triage system is used to prioritize patients based on the severity of their injuries. For this reason, I treated the most critically injured patients first.

4. Provided basic first aid: 

As a Medical professional, I had to provide basic first aid to stabilize the patient's condition. This step included controlling bleeding, administering oxygen, and providing pain relief.

5. Transfer to a medical facility: 

Once the patient's condition was stabilized, I transferred them to a medical facility for further treatment. This involved transporting them by ambulance, helicopter, or other medical transportation.

6. Provided emotional support: 

Trauma can have both physical and emotional effects on patients. Victims needed emotional support too. 

7. Follow-up care: 

After receiving initial treatment, the patient needs ongoing care and rehabilitation to recover from their injuries fully. Medical professionals, including me, tried to provide appropriate follow-up care to help patients achieve the best possible outcomes.

It's worth noting that handling trauma patients requires extensive training and experience and that medical professionals should follow best practices to ensure patients' and caregivers' safety and well-being. Professional medical assistance should always be sought in cases of trauma.

Providing Emotional Support is one of the necessities of Trauma Patients.

Emotional support is an integral part of caring for trauma patients. Experiencing trauma can be a distressing and overwhelming experience, and patients may need support to cope with the physical and psychological effects of their injury. Here are some ways to provide emotional support to trauma patients:

Listen: Let the patient express their feelings, fears, and concerns. Listening actively shows that you care and can help the patient feel validated and understood.

Provide reassurance: Provide positive affirmation and empathize with the patient's situation. Making statements such as "I am here to help you" or "You are not alone" can provide much-needed support.

Encourage coping strategies: Encouraging and teaching coping strategies can help patients feel more in control and better cope with their injuries. Techniques like mindfulness, meditation, or deep breathing can help reduce anxiety and provide a sense of calmness.

Connect with resources: Link patients with support groups, social workers, or other resources that may help them recover. 

Educate the patient: Educating the patient on the nature of trauma, including its physical and psychological effects, can help them understand their experience and manage their recovery expectations. 

Respect boundaries: Respecting the patient's sense of privacy and autonomy is critical in providing emotional support. Be respectful of any limitations they may have established.

Cultivate a sense of safety: Creating a safe, supportive environment for trauma victims is crucial. Ensure that patients feel safe in the hospital, have access to information, and feel their concerns are being addressed.

Overall, providing emotional support requires a combination of empathy, knowledge, and effective communication. Healthcare professionals should remain non-judgmental, supportive, and compassionate throughout the patient's recovery and tailor their approach based on individual needs.