Objective: We describe the process of setting up a database of major incident reports and its potential future application.
Method: A template for reporting on major incidents was developed using a consensus-based process involving a team of experts in the field. A website was set up as a platform from which to launch the template and as a database of submitted reports. This paper describes the processes involved in setting up a major incident reporting database. It describes how specific difficulties have been overcome and anticipates challenges for the future.
Conclusions: We have successfully set up a major incident database, the main purpose of which is to have a repository of standardised major incident reports that can be analysed and compared in order to learn from them.
Keywords: Disaster medicine; Emergency preparedness; Emergency response; Major incident; Mass casualty incident.