Assessment of emergency medical services personnel preparedness against biological incidents

Introduction: Today, health care and medical preparedness against biological threats are important. In the event of a biological incident scene, emergency medical personnel among the other employee's health care system will aid due to the inherent nature of its activities. Methods: This study accomplished aimed to assess the readiness of emergency medicine personnel against biological incidents, with ۱۲۱ samples selected from Tehran EMS personnel in ۲۰۱۲. Findings: based on the results, the average age of respondents is ۳۴ years, most of them were associate degree, average personnel experience ۸/۶ years. About ۶۰/۴% of staff had not received any theoretical education against biological contamination conditions. About ۶۸/۹% of staff had not received any practical training to deal with biological threats. About the necessary equipment to deal with biological events, ۴۸/۵% of the participants declared there is no equipment in ambulance. About the operating procedures to deal with biological incidents, ۵۱% of the staff declared they have no sufficient instructions. Finally, the preparedness of the personnel against biological events were estimated at about ۲۸%. Conclusion: Theoretically and scientifically, the lack of adequate training for personnel is one of the important issues that ultimately reduces the efficiency of emergency medical personnel in the face of biological events and also increases the likelihood of infection and disease in biological contamination. Therefore, the following should be done: design and implement relevant training courses; Retraining courses should be held at appropriate intervals; Address the problem of lack of standard equipment and facilities needed in ambulances to deal with biological accidents; Necessary instructions should be developed in this regard.

Keywords:

preparedness , emergency medical services , biological incidents , آمادگی , فوریت های پزشکی , حوادث بیولوژیک.