Reinventing Medical Hazardous Materials Response for Radiological Emergencies: Building Resiliency in Emergency Medical Response Systems Through a Novel Approach to Education and Training

Abstract

Introduction:The past three years have included multiple Public Health Emergencies of International Concern (PHEIC) and dramatically impacted all facets of Emergency Medical Response. During this time, simultaneous crises have demonstrated the value of the non-traditional responder in mitigating complex incidents. Current geopolitical climate has proliferated nuclear power and increases the necessity for readiness and awareness for radiological incidents. These are complex incidents a responder may face and requires even the lowest skilled practitioner to be fully engaged before special operations intervention.Limited research exists to determine whether current emergency medical services (EMS) training supplies the competency necessary to ensure safety of the prehospital provider during a radiological incident. Forthcoming research will investigate the effectiveness of this current training within the United States.Method:Survey data will be collected from multiple providers across the United States to evaluate their confidence level on two primary objectives during a radiological incident: competency of personal protective equipment donning and doffing, and management of contaminated patients.Data analyses of survey responses help drive future proposed educational activities that will be compliant with best practices set forth by organizations such as the United States Department of Health and Human Services Radiation Emergency Medical Management (REMM), the National Fire Protection Agency (NFPA), and Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/ Training Site (REAC/TS).Results:Data will be collected by survey responses to evaluate a diverse range of EMS services. Details such as skill level, type of EMS service, catchment of communities served, and their impressions upon the training will be analyzed.Conclusion:This is an ongoing project that will embrace the perspectives of the diverse group of delegates of WADEM throughout and become enriched through the organization's wealth of knowledge. Gaps highlighted during roll-out of this research can also be used to address logistics, doctrine, and policy shortfalls.