With 95 specific chapters on individual chemicals and with some reference to over 300 other chemicals in the text, this practical guide, targeted for the use of healthcare professionals and emergency service personnel, details the toxic dangers and clinical requirements of a chemical incident. Prepared by the National Poisons Information Service (part of Guy's and St Thomas' Hospital Trust) each chapter of the handbook is divided into sections for quick reference by the relevant health specialist, setting out first aid needs, the toxic repercussions and environmental hazard potential of the individual chemicals concerned.
Conflict and Catastrophe Medicine - A Practical Guide provides a framework for use by health professionals visiting a resource-constrained environment. Encompassing problems brought about by local conflict or natural disasters, the book covers preparation, organisation, logistics, treatment of major trauma and medical emergencies, and the special problems of delivering medicine in a hostile environment. Conflict and Catastrophe Medicine - A Practical Guide comprehensively tackles: - self-preparation of health professionals to face a range of medical and related problems which occur in hostile and remote environments; - war and disaster medicine, covering acute management, rehabilitation, reconstruction and prevention; - bridging the fields of medicine, nursing, international relations, history, politics and economics. The book also touches on nutrition, infection, trauma, psychiatry and psychological medicine and training. James Ryan, Leonard Cheshire Professor of Conflict Recovery, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, UK Peter F Mahoney, Consultant Anaesthetist and Honorary Senior Lecturer in Conflict Medicine, Leonard Cheshire Centre, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, UK Ian Greaves, Lecturer in Conflict Medicine, Leonard Cheshire Centre, Royal Free and University College Medical School, London, UK Gavin Bowyer, Consultant in Orthopaedic Surgery, Southampton General Hospital, UK.
Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and high-yield Explosive (CBRNE) events have the potential to destabilize governments, create conditions that exacerbate violence or promote terrorism. This can trigger global repercussions. These events can quickly overwhelm the infrastructure and capability of the responders, especially in countries that do not have the specialized resources for response like those available in the United States. When a CBRNE incident occurs in a partner nation or other foreign country, the U.S. is often called upon to provide assistance. Interoperability - the ability to work together - among U.S. agencies, foreign governments, and responders involved in the effort is key to an efficient response. The effectiveness of the U.S. response and approach to CBRNE events in partner nations depends on the capability of the U.S. government to provide timely and appropriate assistance and the resilience of the partner nation to a CBRNE event. An All-of-Government Approach to Increase Resilience for International Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear, and Explosive (CBRNE) Events is the summary of a workshop convened in June 2013 by the National Institute of Standards and Technology and the National Research Council to discuss ways to strengthen the U.S. ability to prepare for and respond to CBRNE events that occur in U.S. partner nations. The workshop brought together diverse experts and stakeholders to identify capabilities that are necessary for responding to an international CBRNE event; discuss best practices and resources needed for improved interoperability of the U.S. and partner nation during response to a CBRNE event; and identify key questions that need to be addressed in follow up activities focused on improving U.S. CBRNE response in partner nations.
This book provides a current analysis of the legal and ethical challenges in preparing for and responding to chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear and explosive (CBRNE) crises. From past events like the Chernobyl nuclear incident in Russia or the Bhopal chemical calamity in India, to the more recent tsunami and nuclear accident in Japan or the Ebola crisis in Africa, and with the on-going threat of bioterrorism, the need to be ready to respond to CBRNE crises is uncontroversial. What is controversial is whether we are on a path that adequately prepares us for the next event. The ethical and legal scholars in this volume hold that much work remains to be done and offer this book to stimulate further reflection and dialogue around CBRNE crises. This is an indispensable book for both students and scholars of bioethics, international law, public health, as well as for regulators and administrators developing policy and legislation related to public health planning and emergency responses.
With our highly connected and interdependent world, the growing threat of infectious diseases and public health crisis has shed light on the requirement for global efforts to manage and combat highly pathogenic infectious diseases and other public health crisis on an unprecedented level. Such disease threats transcend borders. Reducing global threats posed by infectious disease outbreaks – whether naturally caused or resulting from a deliberate or accidental release – requires efforts that cross the disaster management pillars: mitigation, preparedness, response and recovery. This book addresses the issues of global health security along 4 themes: Emerging Threats; Mitigation, Preparedness, Response and Recovery; Exploring the Technology Landscape for Solutions; Leadership and Partnership. The authors of this volume highlight many of the challenges that confront our global security environment today. These range from politically induced disasters, to food insecurity, to zoonosis and terrorism. More optimistically, the authors also present some advances in technology that can help us combat these threats. Understanding the challenges that confront us and the tools we have to overcome them will allow us to face our future with confidence.
This book provides a comprehensive overview of the medical and operational management of blast and explosive incidents affecting civilian populations. It incorporates global lessons learned from first responders, emergency medicine providers, surgeons, intensivists, and military specialists with deep experience in handling blast injuries from point of injury through rehabilitation. The book begins with background and introductory information on blast physics, explosion types, frequency, and perspectives from the military. This is followed by a section on prehospital management focusing on medical and trauma responses, triage, psychological consequences, and operational considerations. It then examines the roles of the emergency department and ICU with chapters on planning and training, surge capacity, resilience, management of common injury types, contamination, and ventilator strategies. The next section covers surgical treatment of a variety of blast injuries such as thoracoabdominal, extremity and vascular, and orthopedic injuries. The book then discusses medical treatment of various injury patterns including lung, abdominal, extremity, and traumatic brain injury. The final section of the book covers post-hospital considerations such as rehabilitation, mental health, and community resilience. Throughout, case studies of recent incidents provide real-life examples of operational and medical management. Operational and Medical Management of Explosive and Blast Incidents is an essential resource for physicians and related professionals, residents, nurses, and medical students in emergency medicine, traumatic surgery, intensive care medicine, and public health as well as civilian and military EMS providers.
Individual preparedness is an important element of our nation's strategy for homeland security. This report adopts a scenario-driven approach that provides a rigorous way to identify actions-linked specifically to terrorist attacks-individuals can take to protect their health and safety. The result is an individual's strategy across four types of terrorist attacks-chemical, radiological, nuclear, and biological-consisting of overarching goals and simple and directive response and preparatory actions. The actions are appropriate regardless of likelihood of an attack, scale of attack, or government alert level; designed to be sensitive to potential variations; and defined in terms of simple rules that should be easy for individuals to adopt.
Marked by its risk-based response philosophy, Hazardous Materials Incidents is an invaluable procedural manual and all-inclusive information resource for emergency services professionals faced with the challenge of responding swiftly and effectively to hazardous materials and terrorism incidents. Easy-to-read and perfect for use in HazMat awareness, operations, and technician-level training courses, this "Operations Plus" book begins by acquainting readers with current laws and regulations, including those governing emergency planning and workplace safety. Subsequent chapters provide in-depth information about personal protective equipment and its limitations; protective actions ranging from site management and rescue through evacuation and decontamination; product control including the use of carbon monoxide detectors; responses to terrorism and terrorist groups; law enforcement activities such as SWAT operations and evidence collection; and more! A key resource for every fire, police, EMS, and industrial responder, Hazardous Materials Incidents is one of the few books available today that is modeled on current ways of thinking about HazMat and terrorism responses and operations.
The 80 rules you need to prepare for action in a medical disaster Here are 80 disaster management rules to reflect on, remember and follow in the immediate aftermath of an incident involving mass casualties. Each rule is a single-page long, providing the essential information to inform the most common critical decisions you will have to make in either a civilian or military environment. Written by clinicians with deep clinical and operational experience, these rules are concise evidence-based guidelines for all medical personnel dealing with disasters at the scene or in hospital. Based on the Major Incident Medical Management and Support system widely adopted in the UK, mainland Europe, Australasia and NATO, they are both authoritative and effective.
