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Personal Protection during Resuscitation of Casualties Contaminated with Chemical or Biological Warfare Agents—A Survey of Medical First Receivers

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Andrea Brinker ,
Kate Prior  and
Jan Schumacher
Andrea Brinker
Affiliation:
Resident, Department of Anaesthetics, Guy's and St Thomas' NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
Kate Prior
Affiliation:
Surgeon Lieutenant Commander, Royal Navy, Shock Trauma Center, University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland USA
Jan Schumacher*
Affiliation:
Consultant Anaesthetist and Honorary Senior Lecturer, University of London, King's College, St Thomas' Campus, London, UK
*
Consultant Anaesthetist and Honorary Senior Lecturer Guy's, King's and St Thomas Medical School, King's College London St Thomas' Department of Anaesthetics Lambeth Palace Road London SE1 7EH, UK E-mail: [email protected]
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Abstract

Introduction:

The threat of mass casualties caused by an unconventional terrorist attack is a challenge for the public health system, with special implications for emergency medicine, anesthesia, and intensive care. Advanced life support of patients injured by chemical or biological warfare agents requires an adequate level of personal protection. The aim of this study was to evaluate the personal protection knowledge of emergency physicians and anesthetists who would be at the frontline of the initial health response to a chemical/biological warfare agent incident.

Methods:

After institutional review board approval, knowledge of personal protection measures among emergency medicine (n = 28) and anesthetics (n = 47) specialty registrars in the South Thames Region of the United Kingdom was surveyed using a standardized questionnaire. Participants were asked for the recommended level of personal protection if a chemical/biological warfare agent(s) casualty required advanced life support in the designated hospital resuscitation area.

Results:

The best awareness within both groups was regarding severe acute respiratory syndrome, and fair knowledge was found regarding anthrax, plague, Ebola, and smallpox. In both groups, knowledge about personal protection requirements against chemical warfare agents was limited. Knowledge about personal protection measures for biological agents was acceptable, but was limited for chemical warfare agents.

Conclusions:

The results highlight the need to improve training and education regarding personal protection measures for medical first receivers.

Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 24 , Issue 6 , December 2009 , pp. 525 - 528
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2009

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