Detection, Prediction, and Surveillance Warren L. Whitlock INTRODUCTION Surveillance is an all-encompassing activity that includes planned and unplanned information collection, statistical analysis, and the prediction reporting of possible future events….

All-Hazards Approach To Decontamination Richard N. Bradley INTRODUCTION A terrorist attack with chemical, biological, or radiological hazards may produce a number of contaminated victims. Many of these may arrive at…

Personal Protective Equipment Joshua G. Schier Robert S. Hoffman INTRODUCTION A hazardous substance (HS) may be defined simply as any substance that is potentially toxic to living systems (1). A…

Federal, State, Regional, and Local Resource Access and Utilization David W. Gruber INTRODUCTION An act of terrorism is by nature a surprise event that shocks any medical system. People, equipment,…

Mass Gathering Preparedness Carl Menckhoff Michael Shaw INTRODUCTION The classic definition of a mass gathering is a group of greater than 1,000 people (1,2,3,4), although the vast majority of the…

Community Public Health Preparedness Scott F. Wetterhall Darren F. Collins INTRODUCTION For a mere 37 cents, the first wide-scale intentional attack with a biological agent began in the autumn of…

Hospital Preparedness Kathy J. Rinnert Daniel C. Keyes INTRODUCTION Terrorist-related events have been increasing over the last decade (1). Coping with them is an ever-changing, dynamic process. In response to…

Scene Preparedness Marc Eckstein Ray Fowler INTRODUCTION Preparedness is the key to being able to respond safely and efficiently to terrorist incidents. Even though one certainly cannot plan for every…

Structural Collapse, Extrication, Crush Syndrome, and Rhabdomyolysis Adam H. Miller In the new era since 9/11, our world faces not only the constant threats of natural disasters but also man-made…