Health Care System Planning for and Response to a Nuclear Detonation

Authors:
  • DWDavid M. Weinstock
    David M. Weinstock
  • CCC. Norman Coleman
    C. Norman Coleman
  • DHDan Hanfling
    Dan Hanfling
  • SCStephen Cantrill
    Stephen Cantrill
  • IRIrwin Redlener
    Irwin Redlener
  • JBJudith L. Bader
    Judith L. Bader
  • PMPaula Murrain-Hill
    Paula Murrain-Hill
  • AKAnn R. Knebel
    Ann R. Knebel
Open Access
Publisher website
Google Scholar
Abstract
The hallmark of a successful response to a nuclear detonation will be the resilience of the community, region, and nation. An incident of this magnitude will rapidly become a national incident; however, the initial critical steps to reduce lives lost, save the lives that can be saved with the resources available, and understand and apply resources available to a complex and dynamic situation will be the responsibility of the local and regional responders and planners. Expectations of the public health and health care systems will be met to the extent possible by coordination, cooperation, and an effort to produce as consistent a response as possible for the victims. Responders will face extraordinarily stressful situations, and their own physical and psychological health is of great importance to optimizing the response. This article illustrates through vignettes and supporting text how the incident may unfold for the various components of the health and medical systems and provides additional context for the discipline-related actions outlined in the state and local planners’ playbook.(Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2011;5:S73-S88)

This publication has 46 references indexed in Scilit: