Improving medical preparednesss for chemical accidents : An inter-organizational resource review

ABSTRACT

As accidental chemical releases gain public attention and other sectors of society join to improve the effectiveness of inter-organizational emergency response, the health care system may find itself increasingly called upon to provide services, training and consulation. Hospitals, with their own quantities of stored and used chemicals, are themselves likely sites for toxic substance accidents. Accidents requiring hospital evacuation have already occured. Institutional planning can capitalize on all available resources to prevent in-house accidents and to prepare for participation in necessary community response. Working with emergency agencies in the early planning phase provides links that can prevent organizational mistakes of the kind that occured in the Mississauga incident and can better prepare communities for Bhopal-type chemical releases. This study has not addressed the likelohood that there may be local outcries after information yielded by SARA Title III is publicized. But it seems sensible to adopt a pro-active risk management strategybeforehand. In this way, the tasks of preparedness, most particulary emergency health care preparedness, can be prudently undertaken in advance of public fear and before chemical incidents occur