Clinicians who responded to six recent mass shooting events recommended eight best practices hospitals should adhere to when responding to these tragic events in the future. Their guidance included recommendations for rapid patient triaging, communication with on-site medics and family reunification.

There are new recommendations for hospitals to help them be better prepared to respond to mass shootings after a study looked at Las Vegas’ response to the 1 October massacre.

Dr. Deborah Kuhls, a trauma surgeon, was nearing the end of a 12-hour shift at University Medical Center (UMC) when she heard on the hospital radio that there had been a shooting on the Strip and that she had to wait five and 10 patients. She then went from 10 to 20 patients. Minutes later, her instruction was to prepare for between 50 and 100 patients.

Trauma surgeon Dr. Deborah Kuhls was nearing the end of a 12-hour shift at University Medical Center when she heard over the hospital radio there had been a shooting on the Strip and to expect five to 10 patients. Then it was 10 to 20 patients. Minutes later, the guidance was to prepare for 50 to 100 patients.

UMC trauma and critical care surgeon Dr. Deborah Kuhls was working the night of the tragic One October shooting in 2017.

The number of mass shooting incidents has been increasing in recent years, rising nearly 40% from 2019 to 2021.

EMS clinicians, emergency physicians, and surgeons who responded to six recent mass shootings publish consensus recommendations and lessons learned in the Journal of the American College of Surgeons

For the past 21 years, Dr. Deborah Kuhls has worked as a trauma and critical care surgeon at University Medical Center the only level-one adult trauma center and pediatric trauma center in Nevada.