Public health information incidents

In the majority of the countries, the necessary equipment and potential have been provided for to counteract the main affections from chemical incidents. These measures include not only the setting up of specialized organizations and institutions such as public health establishments or emergency committees and commissions, but also creation of reliable information sites and systems. 

This concern about stigmatization is, at its heart, an odd one. Public health statistics on varying levels of disease exist, both for nations and, in some cases, for ethnic groups within nations. Those statistics already show that some groups have higher rates of certain diseases than other groups do—but lower rates of other diseases. Even if observers focus only on the diseases with increased incidence, genetic research into the precise alleles responsible for the disease should not add information about the relative... 

Stage 3 Has the incident been confirmed Confirmation implies that definitive evidence and information have been collected to establish the presence of a threat to the chemical facility. Obviously, at this stage the concept of due diligence takes on a whole new meaning since authorities are now faced with death and destruction and a potential public health crisis. Response actions at this point include all steps necessary to protect public health, property, and the environment. 

An important component of responding to a significant chemical incident is to prepare and provide a Public Health Statement/Patient Information Sheet to the healthcare facility. The healthcare provider can then disseminate this objective toxicological information to all treated individuals and the community at large to both educate and allay fears within the local population. 

Rosner and Markowitz, Control of Information Cherniack, Hawk s Nest Incident, pp. 68-74 Rosner and Markowitz, Deadly Dust, pp. 118—120, 132—133 V. Brown, letter to C.J. Stover, Dec. 4, 1936 (Egi) T.C. Waters, Administration of Laws for the Prevention and Control of Occupational Diseases, American Journal of Public Health, vol. 29, pp. 728—737 (1939). 

Medical personnel must rely on accurate and timely information provided by the earliest responders on the scene. If medical teams are expected to be the earliest responders to the scene of a mass casualty incident involving chemical agents, then they should be provided with reliable detection equipment as well as training on the use of the equipment. There should be continued support for the Public Health Service efforts to equip Metropolitan Medical Strike Teams with effective and currently available chemical agent detection equipment. These detectors are reliable, relatively inexpensive, and provide for the detection of all classical chemical agents that may be utilized in a domestic terrorist incident. Furthermore, efficient and cost-effective portable hand-held CWA detectors employing photo ionization detectors, surface acoustic wave microsensors, or ion mobility spectrometry should be readily available to all Hazmat units expected to respond to a potential CWA incident. 

Adapted from health and safety executive report Buncefield major incident investigation initial report July 2006 Page 12. Contains public sector information hcensed under the Open Government Licence. Adapted by Manuel David. 

From The Buncefield Incident 11 December 2005. The final report of the Major Incident Investigation Board - Volume 1 by health and the safety executive (Figure 20 page 30) 2008. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence. 

The tracking of disease spread incidence and epidemics has become very important in the present age, in which epidemics spread quickly and healthcare provisions are short. Rising populations and the rising cost of healthcare coupled with a general lack of healthcare infrastructure in the developing world have led to a virtual breakdown in public health. Hence, as shown in this case study, information and communication technology can be used to help improve local healthcare in many countries, and the sustained use of such technologies may someday lead to a dream of universal effective healthcare. 

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