Citation

Chung S, Shannon M. Arch. Dis. Child. 2005; 90(12): 1300-1307.

Affiliation

Center for Biopreparedness, Division of Emergency Medicine, Children's Hospital Boston, Department of Pediatrics, Harvard Medical School, Boston, MA 02115, USA. sarita.chung@childrens.harvard.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, BMJ Publishing Group)

DOI

10.1136/adc.2004.069617

PMID

16301559

PMCID

PMC1720234

Abstract

In today's world the increased potential of terrorist attacks places unique burdens and consequences on health care workers. Hospitals and hospital personnel must now be prepared to react immediately to such events. They must also implement, in advance, policies to protect their own health care personnel while providing care to victims. In this review, we discuss the four major forms of mass casualty terrorism (biological, chemical, nuclear, and thermomechanical) including clinical signs and symptoms for each, the impact on health care personnel, and special considerations for children. We will then outline key principles of hospital preparation with regard to pediatrics in anticipation of such emergencies.