Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-gbm5v Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T06:38:50.505Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Medical Preparedness Against Chemical and Biological Incidents for the NATO Summit in Istanbul and Lessons Learned

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Levent Kenar  and
Turan Karayilanoglu Pharm
Levent Kenar*
Affiliation:
Department of NBC Defense, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey
Turan Karayilanoglu Pharm
Affiliation:
Department of NBC Defense, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, Ankara, Turkey
*
Levent Kenar Department of NBC Defense, Gulhane Military Medical Academy, 06018 Etlik Ankara, Turkey E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Introduction:

During the 2004 North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) Summit, essential counter-measures, including medical preparedness, were taken to cope with any suspected terrorist case or events including the use of chemical or biological (CB) weapons.The Summit was held in Istanbul, a city that bridges two continents, and involved the participation of many Heads of State, Prime Ministers, and Defense Ministers from 26 NATO countries.

Methods:

First responders, including medical Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear (CBRN) teams, received special training. Essential equipment, including drugs, antidotes, detectors, etc., was provided and stockpiled. Medical authorities augmented the capacity for identifying and con- trolling the injuries and any emerging CB incident through the set-up of decontamination units and the procurement of medical devices, antidotes, drugs, and personal protective suits. Additionally, a small part of the recently established NATO-CBRN battalion was welcomed to the Summit and was prepared to perform detection and identification of the agent found in suspicious appearing samples.

Results:

Although no CB incident was reported during the Summit, extensive experience was gained with respect to medical preparedness against CB terrorism. Sampling, detection, and analysis of toxic materials were taken into account in the medical management. Much laboratory-related work was conducted in the following time period. The laboratory work involved the stan-dardization of sampling and transportation procedures, development of both mobile and reference laboratories, and performing research activities aimed to make the CB analysis more efficient.

Although the training of the medical staff was advanced, training should be continuous and supported with educational programs, conferences, meetings, and tabletop and hospital medical exercises throughout the country.

Conclusion:

Multidisciplinary cooperation, training, and preparedness should be provided to basic medical care units and centers as part of the medical planning aimed at perfect detection and surveillance, laboratory analysis, and emergency response.

Keywords

chemical and biological incidentspreparednessterrorism
Type
Brief Report
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 21 , Issue 4 , August 2006 , pp. 268 - 271
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2006

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.Georgopoulos, PG, Fedele, P, Shade, P, et al. : Hospital response to chemical terrorism: Personal protective equipment, training, and operations planning. Am J Ind Med 2004;46 5):432–445.Google Scholar
2.Sugishima, M: Aum Shinrikyo and the Japanese law on bioterrorism. Prehosp Disast Med 2003;18(3)179–183.Google Scholar
3.Mignone, AT Jr, Davidson, R: Public health response actions and the use of emergency operations centers. Prehosp Disast Med 2003;18(3):217–219.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
4.Rodoplu, U, Arnold, J, Ersoy, G: Terrorism in Turkey. Prehosp Disast Med 2003;18(2):152–160.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5.Kenar, L, Karayilanoglu, T: Prehospital management and medical intervention following a chemical attack. Emerg Med J 2004;21(1):84–88.Google Scholar
6.Kenar, L, Karayilanoglu, T: A Turkish medical rescue team against NBC weapons. Mil Med 2004;169(2):94–96.Google Scholar
7.Karayilanoglu, T, Kenar, L, Gulec, M: Evaluations over the medical emergency responding to chemical terrorist attack. Mil Med 2003;168(8):591–594.Google Scholar
8.Sharp, TW, Brennan, RJ, Keim, M, et al. : Medical preparedness for a terrorist incident involving chemical or biological agents during the 1996 Atlanta Olympic Games. Ann Emerg Med 1998;32:214–223.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed