The Benefits of Having an Emergency Response Plan, Research Paper Example

Parts of the so-called weapons of mass destruction we find have large differences in the capacity for the destruction of the same caliber. The nuclear armament stands out as the real weapon of mass destruction as their capacity is immediate, unlike some biological weapons whose capacity for destruction can also carry a mass effect but at a much slower rate. (Chen 2010)

On the other hand, the chemical weapons and the radiological weapons are on a much lower scale as far as their capacity of destruction. In the case of the radiological weaponry, it sometimes has been designated as a weapon of massive destruction because of its potential to inflict physical effects on the human population. (Duguay 2015)

The direct employment of radioactive materials as a weapon has not been carried out by any army and by their very characteristics does not appear to be employed for future use. If we do an analysis from a purely military point of view without taking into consideration any kind of moral restriction of the use of radioactive material in the field of battle, we must consider factors of operational efficiency and a weighting of response planning. To understand how it can be used this weaponry is essential to know first the physical effects that can occur. (Acton 2007)

In the considerations of planning, geographical settings play a role in the event of a radiological terrorist attack if an emergency plan is needed. There are various ways in which a bioterrorism attack may involve the use of radiation poisoning. The release of radiation poisoning into a population’s water and food supply is one way. A more direct radioactive attack may include the use of radioactive explosives or dirty bombs. These dirty bombs are devices which are intended to disperse radioactive poisoning throughout a population. The textbook term for these devices is radiological dispersion explosives or (RDD).They are usually made using basic explosive devices such as dynamite or C4 plastic explosives in conjunction with the combined radiation materials embedded in them. Dirty bombs are not intended for a means of mass destruction but rather to slowly disable a population’s resources such as their geographic location, water/food supply, and buildings as all will be contaminated with radiation poisoning. (Acton 2007)

For the use of radioactive material as a weapon, we need to analyze their capacity to cause damage to the target population. The damage on the materials by the radiation generally occurs at doses much higher than the damage to the human body, by what we’ll assume the person as the main objective of these weapons. The ionizing radiation issued by the radioactive material interacts with matter by transmitting energy to the medium in different ways, with the final overall result of ion production. These ions produce chemical changes in the molecules, mainly in the water.  At the cellular level, the basic unit of the living organism, the chemical changes in the molecules can affect the whole of its structure; but are damaging to human DNA, where encoded genetic information lies, which produces most of the biological damage induced by radiation. (Karayilanoglu 2004)

The entire area that was attacked would need to be equipped with safe guards that prevent the leak of radiation in the surrounding areas. The timeline in the event of a radiological terrorist attack varies depending on the method or type of radioactive weaponry used. In the case of a radioactive leak into the populations water and food supply, the contamination would need to be contained as soon as it is detected. This would mean the immediate cut off of food supply and water for that population where they must be redirected to new sources of water and food. Depending on the level of exposure, the timeline of injuries or fatalities would vary from person to person. (Heffelfinger 2013)

In the case of a bioterrorism attack with the use of a dirty bomb, the timeline would also vary depending on the severity and exposure of radiation to different parts of the population that was attacked. Although the explosion from the dirty bomb could cause casualties, the amount of radiation in them would not be sufficient enough to eradicate an entire population. However, those in the area still carry the risk of radiation exposure and should immediately be screened for radiation exposure levels. (McCreight 2007)

In the event of a bioterrorism attack involving the use of radioactive materials, it can be assumed that everybody in the surrounding area was exposed to some levels of radiation. Following the radiation attack, nobody should be permitted to leave the area of attack until proper screening has been made on the entire population in order to prevent the spread of radiation poisoning. (Ritchie 2004)

The prevention and deterrence of any bioterrorism attack involving radioactive materials heavily depends on the control of such radioactive materials. This means heavily enforced regulation on who has access to such materials and documentation on where they are being used. Unfortunately, hazardous materials such as radiation materials sometimes leak into the wrong hands for the sole purposes of bioterrorism. This can happen in a number of ways whether radioactive materials are being sold on the black market, or if terrorist steel them from nuclear facilities. In rare instances, an inside person will distribute radioactive materials to terrorist for personal gain in the form of espionage. (Etemike 2012)

It is imperative to assume that the threat of a radiological act of bioterrorism exists and to be ready for it should it ever occur. This means having implemented plans for emergency assessment and diagnosis for the population. (Heffelfinger 2013)

Diagnostic methods for medicinal information related to radiation exposure essentially provide a functional of the organ being studied, contrary to the rest of the diagnostic imaging methods (CT scans; MRI scans; ultrasounds; etc) that provide structural or anatomic information. Considering the rise of positron emissions tomography or (PET), the information offered is on the molecular level. (Dwarakanath 2011)

The nuclear medicine techniques are non-invasive techniques already that for its implementation, only require the previous administration to the patient, usually intravenously, a medication radiopharmaceutical. (Dwarakanath 2011)

Once the radiopharmaceutical in the inside of the body is fixed in a tissue, organ or system specific and can be tracked from the outside because it emits a small amount of gamma radiation that is detected by some appliances called gamma cameras. This emitted radioactive signal is enhances and translated into an electrical signal that is then analyzed by a computer and converted into a projection of images of the organ being studied. The choice of the type of radio-pharmaceutical is dependent on the tissue, organ or organ system to study. (Duguay 2015)

Nuclear medicine scans are enormously secure because that radiopharmaceuticals for diagnostic use are administered in very small doses (hence its name of plotters) which do not have any action drug-therapy, or side effects, nor any serious or adverse reactions. On the other hand, the amount of radiation received by a patient who is undergoing a nuclear medicine scan is similar to or lesser than the radiation received in a conventional radiological exploration. (Karayilanoglu 2004)

In order to successfully execute the emergency assessment and diagnosis following a radiation related bioterror attack, an adequate emergency management and response team would be needed. This would involve a specialized bioterrorism security and response team with the proper training, knowledge, and equipment to be able to respond to the threat of a bioterrorism attack the moment it occurs. (Ritchie 2004)

Hazard mitigation involves the protection and relief of any radioactive materials that have contaminated the population as the result of a bioterror attack. Protection against Ionizing radiation includes a series of measures of general type that affect any radioactive installation and a series of specific measures in accordance with the type of radiation present in each case. However, in working with ionizing radiation should be considered a few basic principles, such as the number of the population exposed to ionizing radiation should be as small as possible and that the activity involving such exposure must be fully justified in accordance with the benefits it provides. Also all the exhibitions will be maintained at the lowest level that is reasonably possible, without be exceeded in any case the annual dose limits legally established. (McCreight 2007)

Following a bioterrorism attack involving radioactive materials, an evacuation plan must be implemented into the population’s government and bioterror security response team. A point of evacuation and shelter would need to be set up in an area outside of the radiation attack while at the same time does not spread to another population. This shelter would then need to be quarantined until the radiation attack is contained and everybody has undergone proper screening and diagnosis. Mobile medical vehicles should be used to treat the victims of the bioterror attack. With mobile medical vehicles or (MMV), those exposed to the radiation would not be required to travel to public medical facilities where they might spread the exposure of radiation to other populations. The use of MMVs also allows for the victim population to remain quarantined while at the same time receiving the proper medical treatment they require. The radiation poisoning can remain contained while the victims are treated. (Heffelfinger 2013)

A tactical team consisting of military and/or homeland security forces would be in charge of the investigation and apprehension of whomever is responsible for a bioterror attack involving radioactive materials. The attack may be foreign or domestic and any information on suspicious activity should be reported to these authorities immediately before, during, or after a bioterror attack of any kind. (Daley 2012)

The leak and contamination of radiation can settle in a geographic location for years. This makes it impossible to sustain an economy in that area until the radiation has fully cleared which is dependent on the amount that was dispersed from the bioterror attack. There is no set recovery timeline for the event of an act of bioterrorism involving radiation. Depending on the method of dispersal, the amount of radiation used, the size of the geographic location, and the architectural structure of the economy, a full recovery from a radiation bioterror attack can range from a few years to 20 plus years. (McCreight 2007)

This is why populations and cities must have an established emergency response plan. Established staging areas would be necessary for emergency responders and hospital locations. Most hospitals are located in the city for the entire population to have access to. If a bioterror attack were to target an area in the city in close proximity with the hospital, it would render the hospital obsolete due to the radiation exposure. This is why the emergency response team must have MMVs armed and ready in the event of a bioterror attack. These MMVs must be located outside of the city where there is a lower probability of them being exposed to the radiation following the attack. This gives the emergency MMVs the ability to travel outside of the contaminated areas where victims of the attack can rendezvous at an established staging area for receiving proper medical diagnosis and treatment. (Dayley 2012)

An act of bioterrorism would have serious impacts on the emergency response team depending on the severity of the situation. Assuming that the emergency response team is fully trained as they should be, they would be able to handle and contain the situation following protocol. Protective gear such as bio-suits and gas-masks would need to be fully equipped so that they are no exposed to the radiation. This allows them to keep safe from contamination while assisting the victims. There is however, always a risk of the emergency response team being exposed to levels of radiation as they are assisting the victims of the population. It should be part of the emergency response team’s protocol for all members to undergo regular diagnosis of radiation exposure until the situation has been contained. (Heffelfinger 2013)

In the case of a bioterror attack involving RDDs, the human consumption of water and food sourcing from the target area would immediately need to be cut off, eliminating any possible risk of the human consumption of radioactive poisoning. The emergency response team should be responsible for supplying the population with meals ready to eat or (MRE) in the case of a bioterror attack involving RDDs. The atmosphere in the target location should be assumed contaminated and unfit for sustaining human life. This is where the established staging areas are used as they are safe zones for the victims to evacuate to and take shelter until they have been cleared from radiation exposure. (Acton 2007)

The emergency support function is responsible for testing and evaluating the plan of a radiation bioterror attack. The number of casualties, people infected, as well as injuries should be recorded for data purposes. Infrastructure damage should be assessed to assist in developing a timeline of recovery for the city. The economic and physiological impacts should be assessed to evaluate how effective the plan as well as the emergency response team responded to the attack. All variables should be considered in assessing whether or not the attack was unique or is attached to a string of multiple attacks. The possibility of multiple attacks should be considered and bioterror security should be fully tightened. It is impossible to establish a fully accurate recovery timeline following the events of a radiological bioterror attack but all factors should be considered so that any recovery timeline is as accurate as possible; though it will most likely fluctuate throughout the process. (Ritchie 2004)

References

Acton, J. M., Rogers, M. B., & Zimmerman, P. D. (2007). Beyond the Dirty Bomb: Re-thinking Radiological Terror. Survival (00396338), 49(3), 151-168. doi:10.1080/00396330701564760

Chen, S. Y., & Tenforde, T. S. (2010). Optimization Approaches to Decision Making on Long-Term Cleanup and Site Restoration Following a Nuclear or Radiological Terrorism Incident. Homeland Security Affairs, 6(1), 1-17.

Daley, M. D. (2012). Training and Certifying Companies for C2CRE and GRF Missions. Army Sustainment, 44(5), 38.

Duguay, R. (2015). Threats of Radiological Terrorism and the Securing of Radioactive Sources. Journal Of Physical Security, 8(1), 55-68.

Dwarakanath, B. S. (2011). Radiation biology and radiation countermeasures. Defence Science Journal, 61(2), 99.

Etemike, L. (2012). The politics of nuclear non-proliferation. Central European Journal Of International & Security Studies, 6(3/4), 11-26.

Heffelfinger, D. G., Tuckett, C. M., & Ryan, J. R. (2013). The Military’s Response to Domestic CBRNE Incidents. Journal Of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, 10(1), 1-19. doi:10.1515/jhsem-2012-0013

Karayilanoglu, T., & Kenar, L. (2004). A Turkish Medical Rescue Team against Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical Weapons. Military Medicine, 169(2), 94-96.

McCreight, R., & Supinski, S. (2007). Post-Strike Attribution–A Political & Scientific Dilemma. Journal Of Homeland Security & Emergency Management, 4(2), 1-6.

Ritchie, E. C., Friedman, M., Watson, P., Ursano, R., Wessely, S., & Flynn, B. (2004). Mass Violence and Early Mental Health Intervention: A Proposed Application of Best Practice Guidelines to Chemical, Biological, and Radiological Attacks. Military Medicine, 169(8), 575-579.