Influence of air-purifying respirators on the simulated first response emergency treatment of CBRN victims

TY - JOUR

T1 - Influence of air-purifying respirators on the simulated first response emergency treatment of CBRN victims

AU - Brinker, Andrea

AU - Gray, Stuart A.

AU - Schumacher, Jan

PY - 2007/8

Y1 - 2007/8

N2 - Aim: Medical first responders and emergency room personnel potentially are threatened by exposure to primary or secondary intoxication by chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) substances. The impact of personal respiratory protection by air-purifying respirators on the performance of resuscitation requires evaluation. This wilt help to improve major incident planning and measures for protecting medical staff. Methods: We investigated the influence of two air-purifying respirator designs on the resuscitation of simulated CBRN victims. Fourteen UK paramedics followed a standardised resuscitation algorithm, either unprotected or wearing a bi-ocular and a panoramic visor respirator in a randomised crossover design. Treatment times and wearer comfort was determined and compared. Results: We did not find any difference in treatment times between the groups wearing respiratory protection and the controls (189 +/- 8.3s for the controls, 191 +/- 9.5s for the panoramic visor mask and 206 +/- 19.1s for the bi-ocular respirator [mean +/- S.E.M.]). Tracheal intubation appeared to be the most time consuming task. In a questionnaire, volunteers were of the opinion that orientation whilst wearing the respirator with the panoramic visor was better compared to the bi-ocular one (85% versus 15%). With respect to the fit, the majority (79%) rated the bi-ocular respirator as more comfortable. Conclusions: Modern personal respiratory protection has only a negligible effect in the delay on the short term treatment during well defined simulated scenarios with a single CBRN casualty. Furthermore, air-purifying respirators with panoramic visors seem to allow a better orientation for medical first responders during simulated resuscitation.

AB - Aim: Medical first responders and emergency room personnel potentially are threatened by exposure to primary or secondary intoxication by chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear (CBRN) substances. The impact of personal respiratory protection by air-purifying respirators on the performance of resuscitation requires evaluation. This wilt help to improve major incident planning and measures for protecting medical staff. Methods: We investigated the influence of two air-purifying respirator designs on the resuscitation of simulated CBRN victims. Fourteen UK paramedics followed a standardised resuscitation algorithm, either unprotected or wearing a bi-ocular and a panoramic visor respirator in a randomised crossover design. Treatment times and wearer comfort was determined and compared. Results: We did not find any difference in treatment times between the groups wearing respiratory protection and the controls (189 +/- 8.3s for the controls, 191 +/- 9.5s for the panoramic visor mask and 206 +/- 19.1s for the bi-ocular respirator [mean +/- S.E.M.]). Tracheal intubation appeared to be the most time consuming task. In a questionnaire, volunteers were of the opinion that orientation whilst wearing the respirator with the panoramic visor was better compared to the bi-ocular one (85% versus 15%). With respect to the fit, the majority (79%) rated the bi-ocular respirator as more comfortable. Conclusions: Modern personal respiratory protection has only a negligible effect in the delay on the short term treatment during well defined simulated scenarios with a single CBRN casualty. Furthermore, air-purifying respirators with panoramic visors seem to allow a better orientation for medical first responders during simulated resuscitation.

KW - CBRN

KW - TIC

KW - respiratory protection

KW - simulated cardiopulmonary resuscitation

KW - paramedic

KW - CHEMICAL PROTECTIVE ENSEMBLE

KW - LARYNGEAL MASK AIRWAY

KW - MEDICAL TASKS

KW - TOKYO SUBWAY

KW - MANAGEMENT

KW - PERFORMANCE

KW - WARFARE

KW - WEAPONS

KW - GEAR

KW - MATSUMOTO

U2 - 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2007.01.017

DO - 10.1016/j.resuscitation.2007.01.017

M3 - Article

SN - 0300-9572

VL - 74

SP - 310

EP - 316

JO - Resuscitation

JF - Resuscitation

IS - 2

M1 - N/A

ER -