Exploring the Challenges and Response Capabilities of DMAT in War Scenarios

Summary: This study simulates a war scenario (acute disaster phase) to test the medical team’s handling capabilities in a prolonged and complex environment. The exercise lasted 1.5 hours, with three patients entering the medical tent every five minutes. The results indicate several key findings: 1. Administrative Operations and Resource Management: Medical supplies were rapidly depleted within a short time, with a heavy reliance on paper records for documentation. 2. Response Capability to Large Numbers of Casualties: The exercise involved patients entering the medical station in small, repeated batches, which did not adequately simulate a scenario with a large influx of casualties. 3. Environmental Pressure Testing: Heavy metal music was used to simulate the noise and chaos of a real disaster scene, but it did not accurately reflect the true pressure sources encountered on the battlefield. 4. Safety Management: Insufficient safety management measures hindered the effective identification of dangerous items carried by evacuees, increasing potential risks, which is an important issue in war situations. 5. Continuity of Care: Due to disrupted transportation and depleted supplies, the medical team was unable to transfer and settle patients promptly, presenting new challenges for extended care. Overall, this exercise reveals the multiple challenges faced by current medical teams and underscores the need to reassess DMAT’s resource allocation and management strategies to enhance their response capabilities in real war environments. It also offers valuable insights for future exercise designs.