Citation

DiMaggio C, Markenson D, Loo GT, Redlener I. Biosecur. Bioterror. 2005; 3(4): 331-337.

Affiliation

Columbia University Mailman School of Public Health, New York, NY 10032, USA. cjd11@columbia.edu

Copyright

(Copyright © 2005, Mary Ann Liebert Publishers)

DOI

10.1089/bsp.2005.3.331

PMID

16366842

Abstract

A nationally representative sample of basic and paramedic emergency medical service providers in the United States was surveyed to assess their willingness to respond to terrorist incidents. EMT's were appreciably (9-13%) less willing than able to respond to such potential terrorist-related incidents as smallpox outbreaks, chemical attacks, or radioactive dirty bombs (p<0.0001). EMTs who had received terrorism-related continuing medical education within the previous 2 years were twice as likely (OR=1.9, 95% CI 1.9, 2.0) to be willing to respond to a potential smallpox dissemination incident as those who indicated that they had not received such training. Timely and appropriate training, attention to interpersonal concerns, and instilling a sense of duty may increase first medical provider response rates.

Language: en