OBJECTIVE Hazmat disaster preparedness is critical, especially as Hong Kong prepares for major international events, such as the 2008 Olympic Equestrian Games. No published medical study describes the identities and quantities of hazardous materials (HMs) in Hong Kong and lists what antidotes are needed for these dangerous goods (DGs). This study describes what HMs are most common in Hong Kong ...

Hazardous materials gloves (HAZMAT) are frequently worn when performing clinical technical skills, but it is unclear how sensory and motor performance is affected in these circumstances. In Experiment 1, two timed standardized manual dexterity tests, and a test of sensory function were administered. Glove use resulted in a decreased ability to manipulate small objects and a decreased sensitivit...

While most of the focus is currently on communities and the health care service sector to have plans and supplies in place for mass victim decontamination, it is just as important for facilities to have proper decontamination (or "decon") procedures in place for emergencies that could occur at their facilities. Written decontamination procedures are required under the Occupational Safety and He...

Telegeomonitoring system development combines two heterogeneous technologies: the geographical information systems technology (GIS) and telecommunications technology. In this paper, we give the system components for telegeomonitoring transportation of hazardous materials. The telegeomonitoring system uses GIS to capture civil infrastructure (urban network, land use, industries, etc.) and decisi...

INTRODUCTION An incident involving the release of chlorine gas from the pump room at a local swimming pool resulted in 54 patients seeking treatment in the emergency departments (EDs) of two local, tertiary-level hospitals in Singapore. The hospital hazardous materials (HAZMAT) disaster plan was activated. This report describes how one of the EDs organized in response to the disaster. EVENT O...

Introduction: In 2022, the Harvard/Beth Israel Deaconess Disaster Medicine Fellowship conducted a full-scale exercise (FSX) with dual mission of 1) training Fellows (DMFs) in design, planning, and execution, 2) expanding local first responder experience pediatric casualties mixed-method terrorist attack. Method: Project PUNCH (Preparedness for Uncertain Novel Chemical Hazards) was planned two s...