Clothing, protective, medical personnel

Field First Aid Remove victim(s) to an area of safety (away from the Hot Zone). Remember patients may contaminate you and/or other emergency responders if you fail to don proper personal protective equipment. Provide victims with emergency medical care as soon as possible. Unless otherwise recommended, remove victim(s) clothing, shoes, and personnel belongings for later return. If the victim was obviously in contact with infectious substance(s), flush skin and eyes for fifteen to twenty minutes. Route victim(s) to hospital for a physician s professional opinion. Ensure that hospital staff is fully aware of the medical situation and the poison or infectious substance that may be involved. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay test (ELISA) is now approved for anthrax use in hospital laboratories. 

For those VHF viruses that can be transmitted from one victim to another person, response and medical personnel should avoid close physical contact with the victim and his or her body fluids. Barrier nursing or infection control techniques include isolating infected persons, wearing protective clothing, disinfection, and disposal of instruments and equipment used for the treatment of VHF, including needles and thermometers. Special Precautions are a must do factor when responding to or caring for viral hemor-... 

Medical personnel, in many cases, failed to take appropriate precautions. At least 42 technicians failed to wear protective clothing when working with contaminated patients or in contaminated rooms. Ambulances used to transport victims were not surveyed and decontaminated, and many homes remained contaminated for some time. 

The purpose of this battlebook is to address operational health concerns in environments where Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) threats exist. Potential NBC threats range from weapons of mass destruction to contamination of the battlefield by hazardous material. Medical personnel, in conjunction with chemical personnel, must be able to advise commanders on a wide range of issues including the health effects of NBC threats, protective clothing and measures, and management of NBC casualties. 

Advantages frcm a past experience (the Anna Bwere shipwreck). Maximum safety recovery woik (fire alarms, emeigency training of interventicm personnel, protective clothing, and medical and evacuation services [Pg.950]

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