Infection Prophylaxis in Large Patient Populations with Combined Injury
Abstract
Data are presented relevant to the question of whether medical first aid is possible following a nuclear attack. At a distance from a nuclear explosion at which gamma or neutron radiation is at or above the dose level that causes severe bone marrow damage so that death due to thrombo-cytopenia is inevitable, long-term survival will not be possible without advanced medical care. Because medical aid provided by medical doctors will be virtually nonexisting, discussion is realistic only for measures of enhancement of longterm survival among A-bomb victims who were not lethally irradiated, either because they were (partially) shielded and/or were at a greater distance from the hypocenter. The most realistic conclusions and recommendations regarding first aid can be deduced from what has occurred in reality, i.e., experience in Nagasaki in 1945. It is important that panic be limited. The public should be informed about radiobiology and infection prophylaxis. They should, for example, know that if they find themselves alive after an A-bomb explosion, they have a fair chance to survive the radiation to which they have been exposed.
Document Details
- Document Type
- Technical Report
- Publication Date
- Apr 29, 1983
- Accession Number
- ADP003880
Entities
People
- D. V. Waaij