Pharmaceutical stockpiles

National Pharmaceutical Stockpile—A stock of vaccines and antidotes stored at the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention in Atlanta, to be used against biological warfare. 

In an attempt to assure universal availability of medical equipment, pharmaceuticals, and vaccines, the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS, formerly the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile) is a federally funded program that maintains a reserve of these items. In the event of disaster, the SNS may be activated to meet critical supply needs, particularly for those items that are rapidly consumed in the early management of patients during... 

Establish protocols for handling and distribution of the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile. 

Proposed after the anthrax attacks last fall, the law authorizes the spending of billions of dollars to improve state, local, and hospital preparedness, expand the National Pharmaceutical Stockpile, increase inspections of imported foods, assess the security of drinking-water systems, and upgrade facilities at the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). 

Economic and safety considerations encourage minimal stockpiling of chemicals and avoiding transportation of hazardous substances. These increasing demands offer many opportunities for microwave chemistry in the development of environmentally benign methods for the preparation of intermediates, specialty chemicals and pharmaceuticals [6[. It appears likely that within the next few years, individual chemical reactors will be required for diverse tasks and will need to be easily relocated... 

In 2003, the FDA approved Prussian blue for the treatment of contamination with radioactive cesium (137Cs) and intoxication with thallium salts. Approval was prompted by concern over potential widespread human contamination with radioactive cesium caused by terrorist use of a radioactive dispersal device ("dirty bomb"). The drug is part of the Strategic National Stockpile of pharmaceuticals and medical material maintained by the CDC... 

The release of a nerve agent near a school would put a strain on local prehospital and in-hospital resources, with airway equipment, supplies of 2-PAM and atropine, and pediatric intensive care beds being quickly used and depleted (Aghababian, 2002). Therefore, health care professionals should know how their community accesses the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) and other resources to obtain medications and supplies in a timely manner. Additionally, hospitals should keep a 48-hour supply of pediatric equipment and pharmaceuticals on hand for their average daily census of pediatric patients, plus an additional 100 patients (Markenson Redlener, 2004). Stockpiled pharmaceuticals and equipment should be specifically for pediatric use or appropriately substituted for such use (Markenson Redlener, 2004). Hospital operations and preparedness policies should include pediatric care and treatment guidelines (Markenson Redlener, 2004). 

V. Treatment. For expert assistance in management of chemical agent exposures and to access pharmaceutical antidote stockpiles that may be needed, contact your local or state health agency or regional Metropolitan Medical Response System (MMRS). In addition, it an act of terrorism is suspected, contact the Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI). 

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