Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-fbnjt Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-19T06:40:30.626Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false
  • English
  • Français

Comfort Level of Emergency Medical Service Providers in Responding to Weapons of Mass Destruction Events: Impact of Training and Equipment

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

Michael J. Reilly ,
David Markenson  and
Charles DiMaggio
Michael J. Reilly*
Affiliation:
Assistant Director, Center for Disaster Medicine, Assistant Professor of Public Health Practice, New York Medical College, School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
David Markenson
Affiliation:
Principal Investigator, CDC TIIDE Grant National Association of EMTs, Director, Center for Disaster Medicine, Associate Professor of Public Health and Associate Professor of Pediatrics, New York Medical College and Chief, Pediatric Emergency Medicine, Maria Fareri Children's Hospital, New York, New York, USA
Charles DiMaggio
Affiliation:
Assistant Professor of Clinical Epidemiology, Columbia University, Mailman School of Public Health, New York, New York, USA
*
Michael J. Reilly, MPH, NREMT-P New York Medical CollegeSPH Bldg. 3rd FloorValhalla, New York 10595USA E-mail: [email protected]
Get access Rights & Permissions [Opens in a new window]

Abstract

Background:

Numerous studies have suggested that emergency medical services (EMS) providers areill-prepared in the areas of training and equipment for response to events due to weapons of mass destruction(WMD) and other public health emergencies (epidemics, etc.).

Methods:

A nationally representative sample of basic and paramedic EMS providers in the United States wassurveyed to assess whether they had received training in WMD and/or public health emergencies as part of their initial provider training and as continuing medical education within the past 24 months. Providers also were surveyed as to whether their primary EMS agency had the necessary specialty equipment to respond to these specific events.

Results:

More than half of EMS providers had some training in WMD response. Hands-on training was associated with EMS provider comfort in responding to chemical, biological, and/or radiological events and public health emergencies (odds ratio (OR) = 3.2, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.1, 3.3). Only 18.1% of providers surveyed indicated that their agencies had the necessary equipment to respond to a WMD event. Emergency medical service providers who only received WMD training reported higher comfort levels than those who had equipment, but no training.

Conclusions:

Lack of training and education as well as the lack of necessary equipment to respond to WMD events is associated with decreased comfort among emergency medical services providers in responding to chemical, biological, and/or radiological incidents. Better training and access to appropriate equipment may increase provider comfort in responding to these types of incidents.

Keywords

bioterrorismemergency medical servicesequipmenttrainingweapons of mass destruction
Type
Original Research
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 22 , Issue 4 , August 2007 , pp. 297 - 303
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2007

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

1.American College of Surgeons: Resources for Optimal Care of the Injured Patient: 1999. Chicago, IL: American College of Surgeons; 1999.Google Scholar
2.Maniscalco, PM, Christen, HT: Understanding Terrorism and Managing its Consequences. New Jersey: Brady-Prentice Hall; 2002.Google Scholar
3.United States Department of Health and Human Services: Health Resources and Services Administration.Trauma-emergency medical services Systems Program. A 2002 National Assessment of State Trauma System Development, Emergency Medical Services Resources, and Disaster Readiness for Mass Casualty Events. Washington, DC: HRSA, 8/2003.Google Scholar
4.May, AK, McGwin, G, Lancaster, LJ, et al. : The April 8,1998 Tornado: Assessment of the trauma system response and the resulting injuries. J Trauma 1999;47:s25–s33.Google Scholar
5.Roy, MJ, (ed): Physician's Guide to Terrorist Attack. Totowa, NJ: Humana Press; 2004.Google Scholar
6.Feliciano, DV, Anderson, GV, Rozycki, GS, et al. : Management of casualties from the bombing at the Centennial Olympics. Am J Surg 1998;176(6):538–543.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
7.American College of Surgeons: Disasters from biological and chemical terrorism–What should the individual surgeon do?: A report from the Committee on Trauma. Available at http://www.facs.org/civiliandisasters/trauma.html. Accessed 08 September 2003.Google Scholar
8.Gunaratna, R, Chalk, P: Jane's Counter Terrorism. 2nd ed.UK: Jane's Information Group, 2002.Google Scholar
9.Barbera, JA, Macintyre, AG, DeAtley, CA: Ambulances to Nowhere: America's Critical Shortfall in Medical Preparedness for Catastrophic Terrorism. In: Howitt, AM, Pangi, RL (eds.): Countering Terrorism: Dimensions of Preparedness. Cambridge, MA: MIT Press, 2003, pp 283–297.Google Scholar
10.Mann, NC, Mullins, RJ, MacKenzie, EJ: A systematic review of published evidence regarding trauma system effectiveness. J Trauma 1999; 47;s25–s33.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
11.Lillibridge, S: New developments in health and medical preparedness related to the threatof terrorism. Prehosp Emerg Care 2003;7:56–58.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
12.Baker, D: Civilian exposure to toxic agents: Emergency medical response. Prehospital Disast Med 2004;19(2):174–178.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
13.Mann, NC, MacKenzie, E, Anderson, C: Public health preparedness for mass-casualty events: A 2002 state-by-state assessment. Prehospital Disast Med 2004;19(3):245–255.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
14.Klein, KR, Atas, JG, Collins, J: Testing emergency medical personnel response to patients with suspected infectious disease. Prehospital Disast Med 2004;19(3):256–265.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
15.Brown, WE Jr, Dawson, D, Levine, R: Compensation, benefits, and satisfaction: The Longitudinal Emergency Medical Technician Demographic Study (LEADS) Project. Prehosp Emerg Care 2003;7(3):357–362.CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
16.Brown, WE Jr, Dickison, PD, Misselbeck, WJ, Levine, R: Longitudinal Emergency Medical Technician Attribute and Demographic Study (LEADS): An interim report. Prehosp Emerg Care 2002;6(4):433–439CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17.Dawson, DE, Brown, WE Jr, Harwell, TS: Assessment of nationally registered emergency medical technician certification training in the United States: The LEADS Project. Longitudinal Emergency Medical Technician Attributes Demographic Study. Prehosp Emerg Care 2003;7(1):114–119CrossRefGoogle Scholar
18.United States General Accounting Office: Report to Congressional Committees. Hospital Preparedness: Most Urban Hospitals Have Emergency Plans but Lack Certain Capacities for BioterrorismResponse. GAO-03-924. Washington, DC: GAO, 8/2003.Google Scholar
19.Ghilarducci, DP, Pirallo, RG, Hegmann, KT: Hazardous materials readiness of the United States Level-I Trauma Centers. Occup Environ Med 2000;42(7):683–692.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
20.Rubin, JN: Recurring pitfalls in hospital preparedness and response. Available at http://www.homelanddefense.org/journal/Articles/rubin.html. Accessed 24 March 2004.Google Scholar
21.United States Congress Senate Committee on Governmental Affairs: Combating Terrorism: Considerations for Investing Resources in Chemical and Biological Preparedness. Statement of Hinton, Henry L. Jr., Managing Director, Defense Capabilities and Management. General Accounting Office. GAO-02-162T. Washington, DC: GAO, 10/17/2001.Google Scholar
22.Columbia University School of Nursing Center for Health Policy: Bioterrorism and Emergency Readiness: Competencies for all Public Health Workers. Columbia: School ofNursing, Center for HealthPolicy, 2002.Google Scholar
23.Association of American Medical Colleges: AAMC issues new report on bioterrorism education formedical students. Newsroom–Press release. Available at http://www.aamc.org/newsroom/pressrel/2003/030707.htm. Accessed14 July 2003.Google Scholar
24.United States Department of Justice, Officeof Justice Programs, Office for Domestic Preparedness: Emergency Responder Guidelines–First Responder Guidelines. Washington, DC: USDOJ, 8/1/2002.Google Scholar