NCJ Number
238516
Date Published
2012
Length
21 pages
Annotation
This report examines whether the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) has medical countermeasures in the U.S. Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) that would address thermal burns in the event of a nuclear detonation that could affect hundreds to thousands of people; the steps HHS has taken to obtain information about and inform industry of its interest in additional countermeasures for thermal burns; and the medical countermeasures being developed and acquired for the SNS that will address thermal burns.
Abstract
Assessments conducted determined that the SNS contains supportive care items for thermal burns, such as bandages, pain medications, intravenous fluids, and topical antimicrobial cream needed for the immediate treatment of burn injuries to reduce the risk of infection and stabilize injured individuals. HHS officials indicated that the goal of the SNS is to supplement State and local supplies used for immediate care in the initial response, which is within 72 hours of sustaining injury. In 2002 and 2003, the Center for Disease Control (CDC) compiled supplies needed for the immediate treatment of burn injuries into kits. The HHS is currently considering whether to acquire additional countermeasures, including those for longer term treatment of burn injuries. Since 2010, the HHS has taken several steps to obtain information about thermal burn countermeasures, such as conducting interviews and site visits with burn experts, clinicians, and industry officials. HHS has issued two formal notices to solicit information from industry about the types of countermeasures that may be available to treat thermal burns in a mass casualty incident. The National Institutes of Health has some medical countermeasures currently in the development and acquisition process. These could serve to address thermal burns. 1 figure and 24 notes