Civil protection and disaster medicine in Germany today.

PURPOSE

This paper seeks to outline the development of disaster medicine services in Germany and the preparedness of the security and rescue forces for mass casualty incidents after an accident, a natural disaster or a terrorist attack.

METHOD

The method used was review of articles and interview with experts.

RESULTS

The plane crash at the 1988 Ramstein air show highlighted problems in the approach to incident management. Following this event, Germany improved the medical management of major incidents. At the railway accident in Eschede in 1998, a "proof of concept" was evident. The newest increases of terrorist threats were also turning points in the further development of disaster medicine in Germany.

CONCLUSIONS

Emergency medical training must be adapted to the increase in disasters, mass casualty incidents, and terrorist threats.