What does the term "mass casualty incident" (MCI) refer to?

The term "mass casualty incident" (MCI) specifically refers to an event where there are a large number of casualties that require immediate emergency response. MCIs can arise from various situations, such as natural disasters, terrorist attacks, or major accidents, where the number of individuals needing medical attention exceeds the capacity of local emergency services to manage. This definition emphasizes the urgent need for coordinated efforts to effectively triage and treat multiple patients simultaneously, optimizing the use of resources and personnel.

In contrast to an MCI, a single patient requiring emergency response refers to typical or routine emergency calls, which do not impose the same level of demand on the healthcare system. Conferences on emergency preparedness focus on planning and knowledge sharing rather than responding to active incidents, while drills for first responders are practice scenarios aimed at training and readiness but do not involve real casualties or emergency situations. Therefore, the context of the term "mass casualty incident" clearly aligns with the definition related to multiple casualties, highlighting the critical need for immediate and organized emergency response efforts.