The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #50126

Wanda Lizak Welles, PhD and Rebecca E Wilburn, MPH. Bureau of Toxic Substance Assessment, New York State Department of Health, Flanigan Square, Room 330, 547 River Street, Troy, NY 12180, 518-402-7810, wlw02@health.state.ny.us

Exposure to hazardous substances (chemical, biological, or radiological) occurs in many diverse settings such as homes, schools, or industrial and commercial facilities. The causes of these releases also vary from human error or equipment failure to deliberate attacks such as assault or terrorism. These events occur in metropolitan and rural communities requiring the resources and capabilities of the local response community: firefighters, emergency medical services personnel and the emergency departments at local hospitals. An understanding of the types of hazardous substances released and the characteristics of the events are necessary for integration by these response communities. This session will provide information on hazardous substances releases and the impact to communities: injured persons (responders, employees and members of the public) evacuations, and decontamination. Additionally, this session will examine the preparedness of a select number of hospital emergency departments to recognize contaminated patients and the emergency departments' readiness to respond. Participants will learn to conceptualize hazardous substances events in an integrated manner that encompasses daily accidental events and large scale mass casualty incidents from the frontline response at the initiating event to the response of the hospital emergency department. The lessons learned from these studies can be used for planning, preparing, training, and responding to everyday hazardous materials events, mass casualty incidents, and terrorist attacks.

Learning Objectives: Participants will be able to

• Recognize and understand the frequency and diversity of hazardous materials releases.
• List at least five chemicals associated with hazardous substances releases and the resulting injuries.
• Identify issues relating to the arrival of the contaminated patient at the hospital emergency department.
• Describe the need for continuity in planning, preparation and training between the traditional emergency response community and hospital emergency departments for hazardous materials events
  small, conventional releases; mass casualty incidents; or a terrorist attack.

  Keywords: Community Planning, Emergency

  Related Web page: www/health.state.ny.us/nysdoh/environ/hsees/hsees.htm

  Presenting author's disclosure statement:
  I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.

  Public Sector Preparation for Dealing with Environmental Hazards

  The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA