The injuries and management of riot casualties admitted to the belfast hospital wards, August to October, 1969

Abstract

Belfast has experienced intermittent rioting for 18 months. An analysis of riot casualties admitted to the wards of Belfast hospitals from 1 Aug. to 31 Oct., 1969, is presented. Approximately 500 casualties came to hospital and of these only 164 were admitted. Eighty‐three (50·6 per cent of admissions) required surgery. One‐third of all admissions had left hospital within 48 hours and only 23 (14 per cent) remained for longer than 2 weeks. The demand for resuscitation was not high and the need for blood unexpectedly low. We describe in this article the types of injury and the treatment they were given. During rioting there are many reasons why surgical preparations may exceed the need for them. Pro‐longed dislocation of normal hospital services does not seem justified by the pattern which emerged. The reception of the large number of casualties arriving over a z‐3‐hour period on the first peak night is discussed. Some of the ethical difficulties of the riot situation are mentioned. Problems of internal security and communication are discussed.

The Little India riot: experience of an emergency department in Singapore

“…The studies showed that the majority of the injuries in civil riots involved the head (12.6%-40.7%) and limbs (33.1%-81.9%). (2)(3)(4)(5) This is similar to our study, in which most of the injuries were to the head (50.0%) and limbs (38.9%).…”

“…This is similar to other studies, whereby most casualties could be managed as outpatients (55.9%-67.2%). (2,4) The patient who was admitted underwent computed tomography of the head, which did not show any intracranial bleeding. He was observed in the ED short stay unit and subsequently discharged.…”

“…(2)(3)(4)(5) This article describes the emergency medical aspect of the 2013 riot, also known as the Little India riot. It provides a description of the casualties that arrived at Tan Tock Seng Hospital, Singapore, how the designated emergency department (ED) responded to the event and lessons that were learnt from the incident.…”

Battlefield Injury – The Scope for Surgery

“…Civilian surgeons faced with weapon casualties may make decisions on the surgical management of wounds (Robb and Matthews 1971) which are at variance with those of civilian surgeons in battlefield situations (Dudley et al 1968) or with those made by military surgeons (Moffat 1967, O'Brien 1973.…”