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Following the deadly attacks that hit Paris on Friday November 13, the Public Assistance of Paris Hospitals launched a “white plan“. A health system response put in place in the event of “exceptional health situations“.
Friday, November 13 at 10:30 p.m., the Assistance Publique des Hôpitaux de Paris (APHP) launched a “white plan“, following the “serial attacks in Paris“. This system of plans, set up in 2004, is part of the Orsan system for “organizing the health response in exceptional health situations“. The triggering of this system formalizes and coordinates the alerting of health systems in three sectors: the ambulatory, hospital and medico-social sectors.
Five health emergencies
Several situations can trigger the Orsan device. These are “situations likely to impact the health system” such as:
- the massive reception of uncontaminated victims;
- the care of many patients following a climatic phenomenon;
- the management of an epidemic or pandemic on the national territory;
- management of a known or emerging biological risk;
- management of an NRC risk (for Nuclear, Biological, Chemical).
Mobilization of staff, strengthening of communication, management of places
During the night from Friday to Saturday, the white plan launched in Paris made it possible to mobilize all the personnel of the Samu and the emergencies. As the APHP says, “the necessary personnel (have been) called directly by the hospitals“. This plan provides for the coordination of emergency services but also a strengthening of communication and the management of hospital places. In the event of a massive influx of wounded, early exits may be considered to free up rooms and rescheduled non-urgent surgical operations to free up operating theaters. A psychological unit is also to be set up when a white plan is triggered.
The APHP has made available a telephone number for people who want information on the identity of victims who may have been hospitalized (01 40 27 40 27). The national information and assistance number for victims is: 0 800 40 60 05.
Violaine Badie
Sources:
1- Press release from the APHP: Serial attacks in Paris (available online) 2- Ministry of Social Affairs, Health and Women’s Rights: the Orsan system (online article)