Discuss the differences in clinical presentation between a person
who is a victim of a chemical vs. a biological event.
Biological agents have caused untold suffering throughout the history of
mankind, and will continue to do so for generations to come. These agents
have been used in warfare for generations, and strike fear into the hearts of
public health officials around the world. Many biological agents are capable
of causing death in gruesome, and often times very quickly. There are so
many types of biological agents that it would be impossible to describe
symptoms that encase every single one of them, as they all have their own
symptoms. A typical patient will present with various symptoms, and are
often severely ill. Typical symptoms include fevers, abdominal pain, flu-like
symptoms, nausea, respiratory problems, and other symptoms depending
upon the causative agent at hand. It is crucial that health care officials,
public health officials, and scientists make an accurate diagnosis quickly. A
diagnosis can allow for better treatment of all individuals who are sick, along
with being able to better warn those who are not sick.
Chemical agents are a threat to public health around the world. There has
been previous attacks, and accidents, and there will continue to be these
events as time goes on. Like biological agents, chemical agents can manifest
in different symptoms, and problems depending upon the agent at hand.
Chemical agents are typically used in a gas form, thus allowing for a much
larger area of dispersal, and more victims to be impacted. One of the most
important aspects of the chemical agents is the need for decontamination.
Patients must be decontaminated to not only stop any damage to their body,
but to prevent others from being contaminated. Many patients who have
been exposed to chemical agents may be suffering from chemical burns, and
also respiratory problems from inhaling the chemical agent. Treatment for
chemical agents would follow decontamination, and typically be supportive
in respiratory cases. It is important for the health care team to be aware of
the chemical agent, along with any possible problems it can cause to the
human body.
Research "Lessons learned from Hurricane Katrina". How do these lessons
from a natural disaster compare to those learned from the other incidents
about which you have read in this course.
Hurricanes and tropical storms have the ability to cause widespread devastation in
coastal communities around the globe. As with any disaster important lessons are
always learned, Hurricane Katrina was no exception to this. Hurricane Katrina saw
failures in nearly every level of government from the local officials, all the way to
the federal government. There were failures in evacuating the vulnerable population
in areas such as the 9
th
ward in New Orleans. Many people drowned or died due to
having nowhere to go, no way to get anywhere from a lack of a vehicle, or poverty.
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- Spring '14
