Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #116294

Charles DiMaggio, PhD, MPH, PA-C, National Center for Disaster Preparedness, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, 722 W. 168th Street, 10th Floor, New York, NY 10032, 212-342-4131, cjd11@columbia.edu and David Markenson, MD, Mailman School of Public Health - Columbia University, National Center for Disaster Preparedness, 722 West 168th Street, Suite 1040 South, New York, NY 10032.

A nationally representative sample of the 203,465 basic and paramedic emergency medical service providers in the United States was surveyed to assess their willingness to respond to terrorist incidents. EMT's were appreciably (10-20%) less willing than able to respond to such potential terrorist-related incidents as smallpox outbreaks, chemical attacks or radioactive dirty bombs. (p<0.0001). EMTs who received terrorism-related continuing medical education within the previous two years were nearly twice as likely (OR=1.9, 95% CI 1.8, 2.0) to be willing to respond to a potential terrorist incident as those who indicated that they had not received such training. Timely and appropriate training, attention to interpersonal concerns and instilling a sense of duty may increase first medical provider response rates.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of this session the participant (learner) will be able to

• Recognize the important role emergency medical technicians play in community preparedness for disasters and terrorist incidents.
• List 5 factors associated with the willingness of emergency medical technicians to respond to potential terrorist incidents such as smallpox outbreaks and chemical exposures.
• Describe 2 means of potentially increasing the willingness of first emergency medical technicians to participate in responses to potential terrorist incidents.

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.

Recorded presentation