10. Summary

Due to events in recent history, it is reasonable to plan for large-scale terrorist attacks that could involve weapons of mass destruction and chemical and/or biologic warfare. If this type of event were to occur, no amount of disaster planning could prevent the chaos that would erupt. Training should focus on attempts to organize the chaos while providing emergency personnel with knowledge on how to protect their own safety. However, natural disasters and accidental chemical leaks from nearby industries are the much more likely type of incident to occur involving large numbers of people with toxic exposures. Keeping that in mind, these guidelines should be followed by all emergency and rescue personnel:

  • In planning consider the “black swan effect”, which means that what has never happened before can and will happen. This describes what happened on 9/11 to the World Trade Centers, to New Orleans with Hurricane Katrina and to Japan with the magnitude of the earthquake and tsunami which damaged their nuclear power plants.
  • Know your area’s local industries and either be familiar with how to treat potential exposures or have guidelines available to provide proper therapies for each chemical.
  • Know which natural disasters are more likely to occur in your area and acquire training for responding to these types of disaster scenarios.
  • Know your area’s venomous animal population and have knowledge about the available treatments/antidotes to these venoms.
  • Be familiar with your community and health facility disaster plans. Know the equipment and medications available. Prioritize the protection of medical personnel.
  • Treat the patient first, not the toxin.