NCJ Number
192808
Date Published
April 2001
Length
166 pages
Annotation
This report provides guidance on developing and training emergency medical service personnel to care for casualties resulting from incidents involving weapons of mass destruction.
Abstract
Weapons of mass destruction (WMD) are those nuclear, biological, chemical, incendiary, or conventional explosive agents that pose a potential threat to health, safety, food supply, property, or the environment. Terrorist use of WMD is believed to be a significant threat to American society. Congress has recognized the threat by passing legislation to fund training for the enhancement of domestic preparedness and a number of presidential decision directives have addressed the threat. This report presents an overall scheme for providing, sustaining, and monitoring appropriate WMD-related educational experiences for Emergency Medical Technicians, emergency nurses, and emergency physicians. The Department of Health and Human Services Office of Emergency Preparedness contracted with the American College of Emergency Physicians to identify the strategies required to prepare these target audiences to respond to WMD incidents. The report: (1) identifies needs, demands, and feasibility for NBC (nuclear, biological or chemical)-related training; (2) determines barriers and challenges; (3) develops goals and strategies; (4) reviews educational curricula for each of the audiences and of six existing courses; (5) defines levels of proficiency and develops associated behavioral objectives; (6) identifies methods for integrating WMD content into initial and continuing education and, for sustaining WMD knowledge and skills; and (7) specifies techniques to ensure continuing proficiencies. Accomplishing contract goals is the responsibility of a task force of individuals from key professional organizations that represent both potential audience and advocacy groups. The task force applied an instructional design methodology that provides a set of guidelines for information gathering and decision making, and encompasses analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation. Tables, references, acronyms, appendix