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AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION

Sharon M. Watkins, PhD, Dennis M. Perrotta, PhD, Martha Stanbury, MSPH, Michael Heumann, MPH, MA, Henry Anderson, MD, Erin Simms, MPH and Monica Huang, MPH

ABSTRACT

Background: Prior assessments of public health readiness had identified gaps in radiation preparedness. In recent years, preparedness planning has involved an “all-hazards” approach. Current assessment of the national status related to radiation public health emergency preparedness capabilities at the state and local health department levels was needed.

Methods: A survey of state health departments related to radiation readiness was undertaken in 2010 by the Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists (CSTE). States with nuclear power plants were instructed to consider their responses exclusive of capabilities and resources related to the plants given that the emergency response plans for nuclear power plants are specific and unique.

Results: Thirty-eight (76%) state health departments responded to the survey, including 26 of the 31 states with nuclear power plants. Specific strengths noted at the state level included that the majority of states had a written radiation response plan and most plans include a detailed section for communications issues during a radiation emergency. In addition, more than half of the states indicated that their relationship with federal partners is sufficient to provide resources for radiation emergencies, indicating the importance states placed on federal resources and expertise. Specific weaknesses are discussed and include that most states had completed little to no planning for public health surveillance to assess potential human health impacts of a radiation event; less than half had written plans to address exposure assessment, environmental sampling, human specimen collection and analysis, and human health assessment. Few reported having sufficient resources to do public health surveillance, radiation exposure assessment, laboratory functions and other capabilities.

Discussion: Levels of planning, resources and partnerships varied among states, those with nuclear power plants were better prepared. Gaps were evident in all states; however and additional training and resources are needed to ensure adequate levels of preparedness.

Conclusion: Overall results of this assessment indicate that in most measures of public health capacity and capability, states are poorly prepared to adequately respond to a major radiation emergency event. Specific recommendations are noted in the discussion.

Download full report (PDF): State-Level Emergency Preparedness and Response Capabilities

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Tags: AMA, American Medical Association, Council of State and Territorial Epidemiologists, CSTE, Disaster, emergency preparedness, nuclear, Nuclear Power, Radiation, radiation preparedness planning, state-level capabilities

This entry was posted on Wednesday, March 16th, 2011 at 1:43 pm and is filed under Energy, Hazardous Waste, Infra Views, National, Pollution . You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.