Assaults with Highly Toxic Substances in Public Spaces: Preparedness in Lessons Learnt from Precedent Cases

Socher, Martin; Romanek, Katrin; Zilker, Thomas; Fromme, Hermann und Wildner, Manfred (2025): Assaults with Highly Toxic Substances in Public Spaces: Preparedness in Lessons Learnt from Precedent Cases. In: Sabuncuoğlu, Suna (Hrsg.): Poisoning - New Insights. London: IntechOpen.

Abstract

The use of chemical substances in terrorist scenarios is to be feared everywhere. Especially after the events that have attracted attention in recent years such as the incident of a Sarin assault on Tokyo subway on March 20th 1995. In addition, the attacks with Novichok on the former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal in Salisbury, March 4th 2018, as well as on the prominent Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny during a flight from Tomsk to Moscow on August 20th 2020 affected not only paramedics but also civilians in public areas. In order to collaterally protect civilian populations in the event of an emergency, the poisoning pattern (toxidrome) must be recognized as quickly and reliably as possible. Training on the relevant agents is needed and provision of necessary rescue equipment (antidotes) in prepared facilities is urgently required. In the event of a terrorist-motivated chemical attack, physicians from the Public Health Service (PHS) will foreseeably play a key role in communicating with decision-makers and the public as part of a competency network. As part of their preparation, the participants in the Bavarian Public Health training course are instructed in clinical symptomatology, toxicodynamics and therapy in the event of exposition to the most menacing, highly toxic chemical substances like organophosphorus (OP) compounds or vesicants such as Sulfur Mustard.

• Dokumententyp: Buchbeitrag
• Fakultät: Medizin > Institut und Poliklinik für Arbeits-, Sozial- und Umweltmedizin
• Themengebiete: 600 Technik, Medizin, angewandte Wissenschaften > 610 Medizin und Gesundheit
• ISBN: 978-1-83634-861-0
• Ort: London
• Sprache: Englisch