Occupationally Based Disaster Medicine
Abstract
Occupational medicine interfaces with emergency medicine during disasters in several important ways. In the event of a disaster, the occupations or specific job duties reported by the first victims presenting to the emergency department (ED) may provide the first clues to the covert release of a chemical, biological, or radiological agent. Furthermore, occupational exposures may complicate acute care and long-term follow-up. Disaster medicine requires the addition of the population perspective of occupational and environmental medicine to the patient-centered model of emergency medicine. ED staff are at risk for exposure to a variety of contaminants during disasters, and the safety and health of these personnel are the clear responsibility of the hospital's occupational health is responsible for the medical evaluation of ED personnel who may use respiratory protection during a disaster. Victims may include first responders and emergency medical services (EMS) personnel, and occupational medicine has unique insights into the special hazards faced by these workers. Hazard identification, risk assessment, and risk communication--to patients, staff, and the media--are specialized competencies of occupational health.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Jan 01, 2011
- Accession Number
- ADA540160
Entities
People
- James M. Madsen
Organizations
- United States Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense