The World Trade Center attack - Doctors in the fire and police services

The World Trade Center attack cast some physicians in roles outside their u sual hospital practice. The incident required several physicians to functio n in the dangerous environment of the disaster. Priorities and triage strat egies established by the police, emergency medical service and fire departm ents, while adhered to, required instantaneous modification and upgrading g iven the vast loss of civilian and rescue personnel lives. Many civilian me dical staff presented themselves with good intentions but needed to be plac ed out of the collapse zone for fear of incurring additional casualties. In addition, problems with re-establishment of command and control, communica tions, personnel and equipment replacement all impacted on the rescue effor t. This article recounts the roles played by the two coauthors during the W orld Trade Center attack.