NCJ Number
216990
Journal
Homeland Protection Professional Volume: 5 Issue: 10 Dated: November/December 2006 Pages: 32-35
Date Published
November 2006
Length
4 pages
Annotation
This article discusses procedures that should be used in order to limit the spread of a major infectious disease or the effects of a bioterrorism attack.
Abstract
Based on experiences with SARS and other mass-casualty incidents, experts are increasingly urging officials, as well as medical personnel in the field and in hospitals, to emphasize the proper use of low-tech safety measures. These include the proper use of surgical masks around patients with respiratory illness and proper hand washing before and after every patient contact. Another area that requires improved training and practice involves communicating to the public about where to go and what to do in the event of the potential for mass exposure to an infectious disease. Although most people learn to go to a hospital when they are sick, in the event of a mass infectious disease outbreak the correct action is more likely to be "Stay home." Such information should be impressed on the public prior to an emergency. It is also important to have in place an emergency action notification system, in order to provide information to the general public that will be sufficiently simple and clear, so it will not be confusing or misinterpreted. The Federal Government has established guidelines for both prehospital and in-hospital patient isolation. For pandemic flu, the Federal guidelines indicate that hospitals should determine in advance who should come into their facilities in the event of a pandemic. Preventing infections from spreading involves asking patients to wear masks and advising people to sit 3 feet apart. Information is also provided on protective measures medical personnel should use in the field and how to turn an ordinary room into an isolation room.