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APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Kevin Horton, MSPH¹, Maureen Orr, MS¹, Shannon Rossiter, MPH¹, Miguel Cruz, MPH², Wendy Wattigney, MStat¹, and Erik Auf der Heide, MD, MPH, FACEP³. (1) Division of Health Studies, ATSDR, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Mailstop E-31, Atlanta, GA 30333, 404-498-0571, dhorton@cdc.gov, (2) NCEH, CDC, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30333, (3) DTEM, ATSDR, 1600 Clifton Rd NE, Atlanta, GA 30333

After the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, increased funding was provided to federal, state and local health departments to improve their terrorism preparedness and emergency response. The findings of a recent survey of local public health preparedness in Kansas showed an improvement but preparedness varied widely among counties. They noted that rural counties are experiencing difficulty improving their preparedness levels. Serious gaps exist in preparations for major chemical releases by companies, emergency responders, government authorities, and the public putting the population at risk.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) collects data about acute releases of hazardous substances and the public health impact, using a network of state health departments known as the Hazardous Substance Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES) system. This analysis of HSEES data compares acute hazardous substances releases in small communities (°Ü50,000 persons in the nearest incorporated area) to releases in more populated areas (>50,000) during the period of January 2000-December 2005. HSEES event location data were merged with the 2000 US Census Bureau population data for the nearest incorporated area, to determine whether the event occurred in or near a small or large community. This report provides examples of chemical release events in small and large communities where people were injured and makes recommendations for preparing for these types of events.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will know

(
• some of the issues first responders face during hazardous substances releases; (
• the different first responder groups susceptible to injury and the types of injuries sustained; and (
• strategies that may help reduce the injuries associated with hazardous substances releases.

Keywords: Environmental Exposures, Chemical Analyses

Related Web page: www.atsdr.cdc.gov/HS/HSEES/hsees.html

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No