A total of 54 participants attended the digital event, where speakers from all three countries provided insights into how mass casualty incidents are organized and managed within their respective regions and national systems. The meeting offered participants a valuable opportunity to compare approaches, share experiences and learn from one another.
The network has been established as a forum for exchanging expertise and practical knowledge, while also identifying barriers that may hinder closer collaboration across national borders. To maximize accessibility, minimize costs and reduce environmental impact, the network will primarily operate through digital meetings.
The primary target groups for the initiative are regional health authorities and hospitals, with military organizations serving as a secondary target audience.
Among the key outcomes of the first meeting were the establishment of regional collaboration between mass casualty incident management actors in Norway, Sweden and Finland, and an increased understanding of how mass casualty management systems are organized in each country.
The network is part of the project High North Civil Preparedness Forum and is led by County Administrative Boards of Västerbotten and Norrbotten. Organizers believe the network will play an important role in strengthening preparedness and fostering closer cooperation across the Nordic region in the face of future major incidents.
“Mass casualty incidents do not respect national borders. By bringing together experts from Norway, Sweden and Finland, we are creating a valuable platform for sharing knowledge, building relationships and strengthening our collective preparedness for future emergencies”, said Peter Johansson, County Administrative Board of Västerbotten.
About the High North Civil Preparedness Forum
The High North Civil Preparedness Forum is a three-year, EU-funded, Interreg Aurora project lead by the High North Cooperation. The project aims to strengthen interregional collaboration within civil preparedness in northern Finland, Sweden and Norway. The target groups for the project’s activities are key civil preparedness stakeholders in the in the region, such as municipalities, agencies, and volunteer organisations.