Hostname: page-component-848d4c4894-v5vhk Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-06-15T21:42:10.692Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

The Evaluation of Readiness of Medical Personnel to Act Under Conditions of Chemical Contamination

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  16 June 2014

Łukasz Szarpak  and
Andrzej Kurowski
Łukasz Szarpak*
Affiliation:
Department of Cardiosurgery and Transplantology, Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland
Andrzej Kurowski
Affiliation:
Anesthesiology, Institute of Cardiology, Warsaw, Poland.
*
Correspondence and reprint requests to Łukasz Szarpak, MSc, Modlinska 201A/11 St, 03-122 Warsaw, Poland (e-mail: Lukasz.szarpak@gmail.com).
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Objective

We evaluated the knowledge of physicians, nurses, and paramedics in Poland about the procedures in a chemical contamination.

Methods

An anonymous survey was mailed to 600 randomly selected physicians, nurses, and paramedics. The survey included questions concerning the process of decontamination, knowledge of toxidromes, and the use of selected antidotes.

Results

Completed surveys were received from 510 respondents (85%). A very low level of knowledge was observed regarding decontamination techniques (from 8.3% to 34.2%), use of antidotes (from 13.7% to 61%), and knowledge of toxidromes (from 10.2% to 22.7%).

Conclusions

Our findings showed that for all aspects of chemical rescue procedures queried, the knowledge of medical personnel was not satisfactory. Both practical and theoretical training of medical personnel is urgently needed for life-saving procedures during a chemical contamination. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2014:0:1–4)

Keywords

medical personnelknowledgechemical contamination
Type
Brief Report
Information
Disaster Medicine and Public Health Preparedness , Volume 8 , Supplement 4 , August 2014 , pp. 297 - 300
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Disaster Medicine and Public Health, Inc. 2014 

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. Pacsial-Ong, EJ, Aguilar, ZP. Chemical warfare agent detection: a review of current trends and future perspective. Front Biosci (Schol Ed). 2013; 5:516-543.Google Scholar
2. Goransson Nyberg, A, Stricklin, D, Sellstrom, A. Mass casualties and health care following the release of toxic chemicals or radioactive material--contribution of modern biotechnology. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2011; 8(12):4521-4549.Google Scholar
3. Szarpak, Ł. Rescue operations in biological hazards. Mil Pharm Med. 2012; 2:69-73.Google Scholar
4. Burda, P, Chodorowski, Z, Groszek, B, Sein Anand, J. Essential preparedness of physician to act during massive chemical disasters [in Polish]. Przegląd Lekarski. 2007; 64(4-5):219-221.Google Scholar
5. Mitchell, CJ, Kernohan, WG, Higginson, R. Are emergency care nurses prepared for chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear or explosive incidents? Int Emerg Nurs. 2012; 20(3):151-161.Google Scholar
6. Karayilanoğlu, T, Kenar, L, Gulec, M. Evaluations over the medical emergency responding to chemical terrorist attack. Mil Med. 2003; 168(8):591-594.Google Scholar
7. Okumura, T, Ninomiya, N, Ohta, M. The chemical disaster response system in Japan. Prehosp Disaster Med. 2003; 18(3):189-192.Google Scholar
8. Szarpak, Ł. Decontamination of victims in emergency departments. Mil Pharm Med. 2011; 4:33-37.Google Scholar
9. Mortelmans, LJ, Van Boxstael, S, De Cauwer, HG, Sabbe, MB. Preparedness of Belgian civil hospitals for chemical, biological, radiation, and nuclear incidents: are we there yet? Eur J Emerg Med. [published online August 23, 2013].Google Scholar
Supplementary material: File

Szarpak supplementary materials

Szarpak supplementary materials

Download Szarpak supplementary materials(File)
File 16.8 KB