250106 Potential Effects of Electromagnetic Pulse on Healthcare

Tuesday, November 1, 2011

Charles Stewart, MD, EMDM, MPH(student) , Department of Emergency Medicine, University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, OK
Mary Kathleen Stewart, MSCIS, MSLA, MPH (c) , School of Public Health, University of Oklahoma, Tulsa, OK
A nuclear weapon that is exploded high above the United States would have little capability to directly harm people by blast and heat, but will still produce a deadly electromagnetic pulse (EMP) that can destroy or disable much of our electrical grid. The congressional “Commission to Assess the Threat to the U.S. from EMP Attack” looked at the effects of EMP on the electronic control systems in our water, oil, and gas distribution systems, and other infrastructure such as telecommunications and transport. There has been little examination of the effects of this electromagnetic pulse on the critical workings of current medical equipment including laboratory equipment, monitoring equipment in emergency departments and intensive care units, ventilators, and radiology equipment, including CT scanners. This paper will examine the effects of EMP on this equipment, potential secondary effects on health care, and propose some possible mitigation strategies.

Learning Areas:
Provision of health care to the public

Learning Objectives:
Define electromagnetic pulse Assess potential effects on common healthcare equipment such as CT and monitoring equipment Discuss potential remediation.

Keywords: Disasters, Health Care Delivery

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I am qualified to present because I did the research and oversee preparedness for disaster as the director of Oklahoma Disaster Institute.
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.