Media Relations

All hospitals experienced pressure from media representatives to provide injury data. For example, media almost camped out at Daniel Freeman Medical Center, while Martin Luther King/Drew Medical Center was almost ignored even though they were seeing a large number of casualties. This disproportionate attention may have contributed to Daniel Freeman Medical Center's extraordinary general call volume since they received the most media attention. Several of the emergency department staff felt that media coverage contributed to the violence. They believe that it played a role similar to that of a infectious disease vector. In this case rather than actually carrying the disease, reporters told looters where it was safe to loot. In other words, by reporting that there was no law enforcement at a particular location and then showing attractive targets, looters came to these locations (Maas, 1992). The Kaiser Permanente Sunset hospital established a first aid "hot line" (800 number) to give basic first aid information to the general public.

Medical Care for the Injured

Continue to Coordination with the Los Angeles Department of Health Service Emergency Operations Center

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