PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT (PPE) OF MEDICAL FIRST RESPONDERS IN DISASTERS

WORKSHOP ORGANISED BY THE SHIELD GROUP

13-14 January 2009

THE NMFR DISASTER CONSORTIUM

Consortium Coordinator: Magen David Adom (Israel)

Consortium Partners:
Al-Quds Nutrition and Health Research Institute (Palestinian Administered Areas), AmbulanceZorg Nederland (The Netherlands), Centre for Science, Society and Citizenship (Italy), Charles University (Czech Republic), Danish Red Cross
(Denmark), Fundacion Rioja Salud (Spain), SAMUR (Spain). Shield Group Inc. (The Netherlands), SINERGIE (Italy)

Observers:
Serbian Red Cross (Serbia), Palestinian Red Crescent (Palestinian Administered Areas)

BACKROUND

Medical personnel are required to care for victims that might be contaminated with chemical or radiological materials. This dangerous work environment includes:
. Working in a contaminated area
. Dealing with patients suffering from highly contagious diseases or the outbreak of a pandemic

The lack of PPE or the improper use of this equipment places medical responders in jeopardy from a broad range of potential hazards.

This threat is especially serious at incidents that pose an immediate threat to life, commonly known as "Immediately Dangerous to Life or Health" (IDLH) environments.

The PPE used today, especially for chemical incidents, is adopted from the equipment used in the chemical and industrial sectors. However, currently there is a lack of information concerning what emergency response equipment is needed to truly satisfy the multiple demands of a large scale event involving the first responder's need for high level PPE.

WORKSHOP PURPOSE

The purpose of the workshop is:
. Provide preplanning information that emergency medical agencies can utilize when developing or updating their PPE caches and general PPE procedures.
. Evaluate various types of medical personal protective equipment (PPE) utilized while working in hazardous environments.
. Provide an in-depth understanding of the four levels of PPE as well as a comparison study of preferred types or brand names familiar with the PPE worn by medical personnel.

Workshop Description

. Historical Background
Review of Lessons Learned and After Action Reports of large-scale incidents involving the need for first responder and medical center PPE.

. Personal Protection Equipment Needs Assessment
Discuss the evaluation process that provides agencies with a perspective of what PPE they currently possess, what PPE they require, and what role their personnel will assume during a multi-jurisdiction response.

. PPE Resource Review
Review and presentation of PPE-related national and international standards, informational guides, and databases to assist in the acquisition protective equipment.

. On scene PPE requirements
Potential for high toxicological exposure

. Medical center PPE requirements
- Lower toxicological exposure
- Time until medical center provider contact
- Staff assigned decontamination duty

. Identify and suggest a "Best Practices Approach" for responders making the "quick rescue" based upon previous incidents and lessons learned.

. Outline PPE types and hazardous environments

- Blood borne pathogens
- Airborne pathogens
- Radiological issues
- Chemical issues

. Present recommendations by researching various brands and preferences
- Present various brand names and preferences for PPE
- Present incidents involving the donning of PPE to suggest recommendations for a standard approach to PPE use during hazardous incidents.

TENTATIVE AGENDA

JANUARY 13

0900 - Registration and Opening remarks

0930 - Chair: Chaim Rafalowski - Magen David Adom

0945 - Welcome: Gerold Dompig,, Director Shield Group

1000 - The background and process for the research

1030 - Historical Background
Review of Lessons Learned and After Action Reports of large-scale incidents involving the need for first responder and medical center PPE.

1130 - Personal Protection Equipment Needs Assessment
Discuss the evaluation process that provides agencies with a perspective of what PPE they currently possess, what PPE they require

1300 - Lunch

1400 - Roles different personnel will assume during a multi-jurisdiction response.

1530 - PPE Resource Review
Review and presentation of PPE-related national and international standards, informational guides, and databases to assist in the acquisition protective equipment.

1630 - Coffee Break and networking

1730 - PPE Program: Protecting the Wearer from Incorrect Use and/or Malfunction of PPE

1830 Concluding remarks

1900 - Dinner

JANUARY 14

0830 - Day 2 registration and welcoming remarks

0900 - On scene PPE requirements

1000 - Medical center PPE requirements

1100 - General Procedures for Selecting PPE Potential Hazards associated with IDLH responses

1200 - Comparison of the Types of Equipment and Their Relationship to the Hazards Associated with the Environment

1300 - Lunch

1400 - A "Best Practices Approach" for responders making the "quick rescue" based upon previous incidents and lessons learned

1500 - Coffee Break and networking

1600 - Standard approach to PPE use during hazardous incidents, with the use of past incidents and job action sheets

1700 - Future Directions and trends

1730 - Concluding remarks

1800 - Adjourn