Assuntos
Guerra Química , Intoxicação por Gás , Cooperação Internacional , I Guerra Mundial , Guerra Química/classificação , Guerra Química/economia , Guerra Química/ética , Guerra Química/história , Guerra Química/legislação & jurisprudência , Guerra Química/prevenção & controle , Guerra Química/estatística & dados numéricos , Guerra Química/tendências , Cloro/história , Cloro/intoxicação , Intoxicação por Gás/história , Intoxicação por Gás/mortalidade , Intoxicação por Gás/patologia , História do Século XIX , História do Século XX , História do Século XXI , Cooperação Internacional/história , Cooperação Internacional/legislação & jurisprudência , Oriente Médio , Fosgênio/história , Fosgênio/intoxicação , Sarina/história , Sarina/intoxicação , U.R.S.S. , Estados Unidos , II Guerra MundialRESUMO
Chemical and biological warfare agents constitute a low-probability, but high-impact risk both to the military and to the civilian population. The use of hazardous materials of chemical or biological origin as weapons and for homicide has been documented since ancient times. The first use of chemicals in terms of weapons of mass destruction goes back to World War I, when on April 22, 1915 large amounts of chlorine were released by German military forces at Ypres, Belgium. Until around the 1970s of the 20th century, the awareness of the threat by chemical and biological agents had been mainly confined to the military sector. In the following time, the development of increasing range delivery systems by chemical and biological agents possessors sensitised public attention to the threat emanating from these agents. Their proliferation to the terrorists field during the 1990s with the expanding scale and globalisation of terrorist attacks suggested that these agents are becoming an increasing threat to the whole world community. The following article gives a condensed overview on the history of use and development of the more prominent chemical and biological warfare agents.
Assuntos
Guerra Biológica/história , Substâncias para a Guerra Química/história , Guerra Química/história , Antídotos/história , Antídotos/uso terapêutico , Guerra Biológica/classificação , Guerra Biológica/legislação & jurisprudência , Guerra Química/classificação , Guerra Química/legislação & jurisprudência , Substâncias para a Guerra Química/classificação , História do Século XV , História do Século XVI , História do Século XVII , História do Século XVIII , História do Século XIX , História do Século XX , História do Século XXI , História Antiga , História Medieval , Dispositivos de Proteção Respiratória/história , Controle Social Formal , GuerraRESUMO
Since 9/11, hospitals and health authorities have been preparing medical response in case of various mass terror attacks. The experience of Tel Aviv Sourasky Medical Center in treating suicide-bombing mass casualties served, in the time leading up to the war in Iraq, as a platform for launching a preparedness program for possible attacks with biological and chemical agents of mass destruction. Adapting Quarantelli's criteria on disaster mitigation to the "microinfrastructure" of the hospital, and including human behavior experts, we attempted to foster an interactive emergency management process that would deal with contingencies stemming from the potential hazards of chemical and biological (CB) weapons. The main objective of our work was to encourage an organization-wide communication network that could effectively address the contingent hazards unique to this unprecedented situation. A stratified assessment of needs, identification of unique dangers to first responders, and assignment of team-training sessions paved the way for program development. Empowerment through leadership and resilience training was introduced to emergency team leaders of all disciplines. Focal subject matters included proactive planning, problem-solving, informal horizontal and vertical communication, and coping through stress-management techniques. The outcome of this process was manifested in an "operation and people" orientation supporting a more effective and compatible emergency management. The aim of article is to describe this process and to point toward the need for a broad-spectrum view in such circumstances. Unlike military units, the civilian hospital staff at risk, expected to deal with CB casualties, requires adequate personal consideration to enable effective functioning. Issues remain to be addressed in the future. We believe that collaboration and sharing of knowledge, information, and expertise beyond the medical realm is imperative in assisting hospitals to expedite appropriate preparedness programs.
Assuntos
Guerra Biológica , Guerra Química , Planejamento em Desastres/organização & administração , Serviço Hospitalar de Emergência/organização & administração , Terrorismo , Guerra Biológica/classificação , Guerra Biológica/tendências , Guerra Química/classificação , Guerra Química/tendências , Sistemas de Comunicação entre Serviços de Emergência/organização & administração , Planejamento em Saúde , Diretrizes para o Planejamento em Saúde , Humanos , Capacitação em Serviço/organização & administração , Israel , Recursos Humanos em Hospital/educação , Socorro em Desastres/organização & administração , Medidas de Segurança/organização & administração , Terrorismo/classificação , Terrorismo/tendênciasRESUMO
The threat of bioterrorism striking America is no longer a threat. It's real. Take a look at how the anthrax-laced letters and future acts of terrorism impact physician executives. Also consider some ways to prepare your physicians for a bioterrorism emergency.
Assuntos
Bioterrorismo , Administração em Saúde Pública , Antraz , Guerra Biológica/classificação , Guerra Química/classificação , Defesa Civil , Comunicação , Conflito Psicológico , Humanos , Médicos , Política Pública , Estados UnidosRESUMO
On September 11, 2001, terrorists destroyed the World Trade Center (WTC) in New York City. Explosions and fires resulted in the complete collapse of the two WTC towers. The collapsing towers served as enormous point sources of gaseous and particulate air pollution, seen as huge plumes of smoke and dust. The smoke contained volatile organic compounds and fine particles and aerosols. The dust fraction contained parts of ceiling tiles, carpets, concrete, adhesives, asbestos, chromium, lead, titanium, and many other elements and materials. Whether there were unusually toxic ingredients in the plumes is largely unknown.
