March 22, 2016, began as a typical day for Lucien Bodson, then an emergency room physician. “It was around 8 a.m., and I was having breakfast at home before going to perform at the hospital,” he said. That routine was quickly shattered by news of the first explosion at Zaventem Airport. Minutes later, a second blast struck the same location, followed by a third explosion at the Maelbeek metro station.
With the scale of the situation becoming clear, emergency services immediately mobilized. “We knew many people were in danger, so a major medical intervention plan was activated,” Bodson said. Firefighters, police, and emergency room doctors were deployed, with a clear priority: “Protecting the population.”
Triage of Victims
Upon arriving at the scenes, first responders were faced with a stark reality: they had to act quickly and create difficult choices. “It is essential to triage the victims,” the retired emergency doctor explained. This critical step involves identifying those with life-threatening injuries and those whose treatment could be delayed. “That’s what we try to train for as much as possible: command, coordination, and communication.”
One of the mistakes not to make is…
In this type of situation, a mistake can cost lives. “One of the mistakes not to make is to rush to the first victim and do everything for them,” Bodson asserted. He clarified: “If we waste time on a person whose chances of survival are almost nil, we deprive many others of their chances.”
Lack of Preparation
Despite training exercises, the physician is emphatic: “You are never prepared for this.” This realization was even more acute for less experienced responders. “War trauma is really particular,” he pointed out. “You don’t learn that in school.”
Since the attacks, efforts have been made to better train healthcare professionals to deal with this type of injury, including surgeons, anesthesiologists, and emergency doctors. But on the ground, the shock remains immense. “This initial triage, these first reactions are fundamental. It’s very difficult, but it has to be done.”
Lack of Resources
Ten years after the events, the emergency room doctor points to persistent shortcomings in preparation for this type of disaster. Exercises do exist, but are insufficient. “Training is extremely important. We try to train people to have the right reflexes at the right time, but we don’t do enough of it,” he explained.
He added: “There aren’t enough resources; this type of training is expensive.” This lack of preparation could, in his opinion, have consequences in the event of another attack.
