Tömegkatasztrófa

Tömegkatasztrófa is a Hungarian term that translates to mass casualty incident or mass disaster. It refers to an event that overwhelms the available emergency medical services and resources, resulting in a large number of casualties, often exceeding the capacity of local facilities to manage. These incidents can be caused by a variety of factors, including natural disasters such as earthquakes, floods, or hurricanes, as well as man-made events like industrial accidents, terrorist attacks, large-scale transportation crashes, or fires.

The defining characteristic of a tömegkatasztrófa is the disproportionate number of injured or deceased individuals compared to the immediate response capabilities. This necessitates a coordinated and often multi-agency response, involving not only medical personnel but also fire departments, police, and other emergency management organizations. Planning and preparedness are crucial for mitigating the impact of such events. This includes establishing protocols for triage, patient transportation, communication, and the mobilization of additional resources. The goal is to save as many lives as possible and to provide appropriate care to those affected. The term emphasizes the scale of the event and the significant challenge it poses to societal infrastructure and emergency services.