Prehospital First Aid and Response to Mass Casualties at Kitakyushu City Yahata Hospital in Kitakyushu City

Summary: Fukuoka Prefecture, located in northern Kyushu, Japan, is known for its natural beauty and a long history of international exchange. Kitakyushu City, in Fukuoka Prefecture, developed as a significant industrial hub owing to the establishment of steel mills during Japan’s modernization, while also preserving its surrounding natural landscapes. Kitakyushu City Yahata Hospital plays a vital role in disaster response in Kitakyushu’s diverse industrial and rural areas. Our hospital is responsible for information gathering, resource allocation, and interagency collaboration in disaster situations. This report reviews the field mobilizations of hospitals and incidents of multiple injuries in 2023. We retrospectively analyzed all dispatches and patient admissions between January 1 and December 31, 2023. The review includes cases in which our medical staff provided pre-hospital emergency care on-site and instances of multiple injuries and illnesses. During 2023, there were 12 dispatch requests, with 10 completed requests and two cancellations. Specific incidents included six traffic accidents, two drownings, one factory accident, one rail-related incident, and two rescue incidents in mountainous areas. Additionally, two major incidents occurred: a river drowning involving schoolchildren and a fire at a demolition plant. Our findings underscore the necessity for Kitakyushu medical personnel to be proficient in prehospital emergency care, particularly given the city’s varied geography and industrial landscape. Enhanced training in collaboration with fire departments, factory personnel, railway operators, and airport disaster managers is essential for strengthening emergency response capabilities across diverse settings.