Annals of emergency medicine
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Emergency department handling and treatment of chemically contaminated patients can have potentially serious consequences. Medical staff can be exposed to hazardous chemicals through dermal contact or inhalation of volatile compounds or particulate matter. ⋯ The Joint Commission on Accreditation of Healthcare Organizations standards and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration regulations for participation in community hazardous materials incident emergency response plans require hospital EDs to prepare for hazardous materials incidents. This study provides a template protocol for ED preparation for and treatment of patients exposed to hazardous materials.
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The Advanced Trauma Life Support (ATLS) course is sponsored by the American College of Surgeons Committee on Trauma. This course was developed to provide a consistent method of care for the resuscitation and evaluation of the injured patient. The ATLS course provides an easily remembered method for evaluating and treating the victim of a traumatic event. ⋯ The changes recently introduced in the sixth edition of the ATLS course are highlighted. The worldwide growth of ATLS is acknowledged. The strength of this educational course remains the commitment to our primary goal of optimal care for the injured patient.