Chemical warfare agents: Emergency medical and emergency public health issues

Citation
Rj. Brennan et al., Chemical warfare agents: Emergency medical and emergency public health issues, ANN EMERG M, 34(2), 1999, pp. 191-204
Citations number
76
Categorie Soggetti
Aneshtesia & Intensive Care
Journal title
ANNALS OF EMERGENCY MEDICINE
ISSN journal
01960644 → ACNP
Volume
34
Issue
2
Year of publication
1999
Pages
191 - 204
Database
ISI
SICI code
0196-0644(199908)34:2<191:CWAEMA>2.0.ZU;2-2
Abstract
The threat of exposure to chemical warfare agents has traditionally been co nsidered a military issue. Several recent events have demonstrated that civ ilians may also be exposed to these agents. The intentional or unintentiona l release of a chemical warfare agent in a civilian community has the poten tial to create thousands of casualties, thereby overwhelming local health a nd medical resources. The resources of US communities to respond to chemica l incidents have been designed primarily for industrial agents, but must be expanded and developed regarding incident management, agent detection, pro tection of emergency personnel, and clinical care. We present an overview o f the risk that chemical warfare agents presently pose to civilian populati ons and a discussion of the emergency medical and emergency public health i ssues related to preparedness and response.