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Hazmat Information |
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in most of us. This fear is usually the result of limited preparation or lack of knowledge. HAZMAT is getting increased attention in emergency medicine for two reasons. The first is the heightened concern of terrorism and the risk for a weapon of mass destruction (WMD) event. WMD is essentially a HAZMAT event with criminal intent. The second reason is OSHA's HAZWOPER regulation (29 CFR 1910.120). OSHA interpretation of the regulation requires that emergency physicians and nurses receive HAZMAT training to the First Responder Operations level (8 hrs), if they may have to decontaminate a patient (www.osha-slc.gov/OshDoc/Interp_data/I19990310.html). The SC Emergency Preparedness Division (SCEPD) has taken the lead in trying to educate us. They have or will offer a FEMA course entitled Hospital Emergency Department Management of Hazardous Material Accidents in each region of the state over the next year. This course plus site specific training on personal protective equipment and response plan will provide adequate training for HAZMAT First Responder Operations level. Dr. Weinstein and I, along with our respective technical experts, have agreed to present the scheduled courses. The scheduled courses are conducted with the concept of train the trainer. Therefore, we need more instructors to carry the course back to your hospital to educate all of those willing to listen. The course material (instructor guide, student manual, PowerPoint slides) will be provided to you by SCEPD. Once you have a basic understanding, the presentation of the course is no more difficult than an ACLS or similar course. I present all of this information to you in hopes that you will want to be involved. I am currently completing the application for CME credit for the course through SCCEP. The application requests names and titles of the instructors. In order to make it easier for future courses, I would like to list all potential instructors. If you have an interest, please send me your name, title, address, telephone, and email. Unless requested not to, I will forward this info to SCEPD as a resource for future courses. Thanks, Steve Shelton, MD, FACEP |