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Chemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear and Explosives (CBRNE) Training for Foreign Disaster Relief Agencies

Joe Maloney, MPH, REHS, Division of Health Education and Promotion, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Executive Park, Building 4, 1600 Clifton Rd, NE, E-42, Atlanta, GA 30333, 404-498-0516, zcd9@cdc.gov and Joe Hughart, MPH, MS, RHSP, Office of the Assistant Administrator, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 1600 Clifton Rd, NE, E-28, Atlanta, GA 30333.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) provides health education services to communities living near hazardous waste sites and communities potentially affected by unplanned chemical releases. ATSDR collaborates with many Federal, state and local government organizations in emergency and terrorism preparedness and response activities. With the increasing potential for Americans working abroad to become targets of terrorism, ATSDR along with the US Agency for International Development (USAID) provides training and education for USAID and non-government organization (NGO) employees deploying to international assignments during disaster relief operations. ATSDR has developed a course curriculum on potential chemical, biological and radiological terrorism contingencies. Course subjects include detection, first aid, evacuation vs. shelter in place, decontamination procedures, industrial chemicals as improvised weapons of mass destruction, and hands on use of personal protective equipment (PPE). Since implementation of this program, USAID and NGO staff have demonstrated a significantly increased knowledge of the nature of CBRNE agents, understanding of emergency protective procedures, and confidence in the proper use of cached PPE at disaster relief sites. This session will present a model CBRNE training curriculum that may be integrated into any agency emergency preparedness or disaster assistance training program.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session, participants will be able to

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.

Preparing Health Professionals to Respond

The 132nd Annual Meeting (November 6-10, 2004) of APHA