The purpose for this handbook is to serve as a concise pocket-sized manual that will guide medical personnel in the prophylaxis and management of biological casulties. It is designed as a quick reference and overview, and is not intended as a definitive text on the medical management of biological casualties.
Supplies basic summary and treatment information quickly for the health care provider on the front lines. Provides concise supplemental reading material to assist in education of biological casualty management. Edge indexed.
Preceded by Chemical Casualty Care Division's field management of chemical casualties handbook / editors, Gary Hurst ... [et al.]. Fourth edition. 2014.
Medical defense against biological warfare or terrorism is an area of study unfamiliar to most military and civilian health care providers during peacetime. In the aftermath of Operations Desert Shield/Desert Storm, it became obvious that the threat of biological attacks against U.S. soldiers was real. Increased incidents and threats of domestic terrorism (e.g., New York City World Trade Center bombing), as well as numerous anthrax hoaxes around the country have brought the issue home to civilians as well. Other issues, including the disclosure of a sophisticated offensive biological warfare program in the former Soviet Union, have reinforced the need for increased training and education of health care professionals on how to prevent and treat biological warfare casualties. The Medical Management of Chemical and Biological Casualties Course taught at both USAMRIID and USAMRICD trains over 560 military medical professionals each year on both biological and chemical medical defense. The highly successful 3-day USAMRIID satellite course on the Medical Management of Biological Casualties has reached over 40,000 medical personnel over the last three years. Through this handbook and the training courses noted above, medical professionals will learn that effective medical countermeasures are available against many of the bacteria, viruses, and toxins that might be used as biological weapons against our military forces or civilian communities. New chapters have been added on melioidosis, the medical management of a biological weapon attack, and the use of epidemiologic clues in determining whether an outbreak might have been intentionally spread. In addition, a reference appendix has been added for those interested in more in-depth reading on this subject. The handbook serves as a concise pocket-sized manual that will guide medical personnel on the front lines in the prophylaxis and management of biological casualties. (89 refs.)
Originating in the armed forces of the early 20th century, weapons based on chemical, biological or nuclear agents have become an everpresent threat that has not vanished after the end of the cold war. Since the technology to produce these agents is nowadays available to many countries and organizations, including those with terrorist aims, civil authorities across the world need to prepare against incidents involving these agents and train their personnel accordingly. As an introductory text on NBC CBRN weapons and agents, this book leads the reader from the scientific basics to the current threats and strategies to prepare against them. After an introductory part on the history of NBC CBRN weapons and their international control, the three classes of nuclear/radiological, biological, and chemical weapons are introduced, focusing on agents and delivery vehicles. Current methods for the rapid detection of NBC CBRN agents are introduced, and the principles of physical protection of humans and structures are explained. The final parts addresses more general issues of risk management, preparedness and response management, as the set of tools that authorities and civil services will be needed in a future CBRN scenario as well as the likely future scenarios that authorities and civil services will be faced with in the coming years. This book is a must-have for Health Officers, Public Health Agencies, and Military Authorities.
From the Preface: This book marks the first 50 years of the U.S. Army Medical Research and Materiel Command (USAMRMC). It documents a chronology highlighting some of the Command's many contributions to ensuring that world-class medical technologies are available to our service men and women. Our organizations and programs have evolved to support the needs of the warfighter in training, pre-deployment operations, deployment to nonhostile and hostile operations, post-deployment recovery and reconstitution, and into retirement.
This is the second edition of this publication which focuses on the public health aspects of the possible deliberate use of biological or chemical agents. Issues discussed include: the key principles for public health planning, risk assessment, hazard identification and evaluation, risk management strategies, and response planning as part of existing national emergency plans, disease surveillance and early warning systems, the national and international legal framework, and international sources of assistance. Technical annexes cover a range of issues including chemical agents, toxins, biological agents, principles of protection, precautions against the sabotage of drinking water, food and other products, information resources and the affiliation of WHO Member States to the international treaties on biological and chemical weapons.
