INJURIES CAUSED BY HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ACCIDENTS

Study objective: To describe exposures that prehospital and ED personn el may encounter as a result of hazardous material incidents. Methods: Retrospective analysis of hazardous material incident reports from si x district hazardous material teams in Massachusetts from their incept ion through May 1996. Results: The chemicals most frequently involved were various hydrocarbons and corrosive materials. Chlorine derivative s were involved in 18% of all incidents and 23% of all incidents resul ting in victims. Victims were produced by 47 of 162 (29%) incidents. R espiratory exposures were the most frequent type of exposure and resul ted in the largest number of victims transported to a hospital. Overal l 24 of 26 (92%) incidents with chemical exposures resulted in symptom atic victims and 33 of 35 (94%) incidents produced victims requiring h ospital transport. Respiratory symptoms were the most frequent, both i n the number of incidents where they were observed and the total numbe r of victims with symptoms. Conclusion: Multiple victim transport to E Ds from a single hazardous material incident is most likely to result from an inhalation exposure to a respiratory irritant. Information fro m descriptive studies should allow improved preparation for potential hazardous material victims.