Main description:

This book provides practical guidance to emergency personnel and others in the event of having to manage individual or mass chemical casualties as part of their work in a civilian ambulance service or hospital. The text considers the nature and basic science of the hazards faced as well as the practical management of persons exposed to chemicals and toxins (which although of biological origin behave as chemicals in terms of their effects and transmission). Individual chapters cover the development and classification of chemical toxic agents, how exposure can occur and how medical personnel should be involved in its management . There is also consideration of the nature of toxic trauma and the pathophysiological processes involved, together with a systematic approach to early and continuing management supported by specific examples of incidents. This guide is a useful practical resource for emergency medical and paramedical personnel involved in the management of mass chemical casualties and with ensuring safe operating procedures within potentially contaminated areas to prevent secondary casualties from a chemical release.

Contents:

Introduction.- Toxic trauma: an historical perspective.- The classification and properties of toxic hazards.- Properties of toxic chemical agents.- Exposure to toxic hazards.- Responding to chemical releases: essentials of organization and incident management.- The pathophysiology of toxic trauma.- The clinical presentation of toxic trauma: assessment and diagnosis.- The treatment of toxic trauma.- The longer term consequences of toxic trauma.- Preparing for toxic trauma.-Appendices