French Ministry of Health's response to Paris attacks of 13 November 2015.

ABSTRACT

On Friday November 13th at 920 pm, three kamikaze bombs went off around the Stade de France a stadium in Saint-Denis just outside Paris, 4 different shootings took place and bombings in Paris and hundreds of people were held hostage in a theater.This multi-site terrorist attack was the first of this magnitude in France. Drawing the lessons of these attacks and those which occurred in other countries from a health perspective is essential to continuously adapt and improve the French response to possible future attacks. Several issues would need to be further explored Management of uncertainties When to trigger the plans after the 1st attack, the 2nd? When do attacks end and when to release mobilized resources? Management of victims How to ensure that all victims are secured or taken care of? How to provide assistance when attacks are ongoing? Management of teams Proper follow-up of persons involved in the response health professionals, police and firemen, emergency call centers but also civil servants within administration that contributed to the response. Communication Reactivity of all is a key element to secure appropriate resource is mobilized for the response. All actors have to be able to communicate quickly in a secured way.