Use of Facial Recognition Software to Identify Disaster Victims With Facial Injuries.

OBJECTIVE: After large-scale disasters, victim identification frequently presents a challenge and a priority for responders attempting to reunite families and ensure proper identification of deceased persons. The purpose of this investigation was to determine whether currently commercially available facial recognition software can successfully identify disaster victims with facial injuries. METHODS: Photos of 106 people were taken before and after application of moulage designed to simulate traumatic facial injuries. These photos as well as photos from volunteers' personal photo collections were analyzed by using facial recognition software to determine whether this technology could accurately identify a person with facial injuries. RESULTS: The study results suggest that a responder could expect to get a correct match between submitted photos and photos of injured patients between 39% and 45% of the time and a much higher percentage of correct returns if submitted photos were of optimal quality with percentages correct exceeding 90% in most situations. CONCLUSIONS: The present results suggest that the use of this software would provide significant benefit to responders. Although a correct result was returned only 40% of the time, this would still likely represent a benefit for a responder trying to identify hundreds or thousands of victims. (Disaster Med Public Health Preparedness. 2017;11:568-572).

Regional preparedness for mass acetylcholinesterase inhibitor poisoning through plans for stockpiling and interhospital sharing of pralidoxime.

BACKGROUND: Regional preparedness efforts related to the stockpiling and interhospital sharing of critical antidotal medications is an important topic in the age of terrorism and weapons of mass destruction. Little attention has been paid to how well regional preparedness efforts specifically affect availability of pralidoxime (2-PAM) if it were needed to treat a mass poisoning with acetylcholinesterase inhibitors (organophosphorus pesticides or nerve agents). OBJECTIVES: The authors sought to assess whether hospitals in one region of Massachusetts (Department of Public Health Region 2, Central Massachusetts) have adequate plans for responding to a large number of patients requiring 2-PAM as might occur after the intentional release of nerve agents or organophosphorus chemicals into a civilian population or the food or water supply. METHODS: The Massachusetts DPH Region 2 contains 10 acute care hospitals including one level 1 Trauma Center that is also the only tertiary care hospital in the region. A 13-question online survey was used to assess three important components of 2-PAM availability: 1) the amount of 2-PAM available, 2) regional medication sharing activities, and 3) attitudes and awareness of resources available in the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS). RESULTS: Seven of 10 hospitals participated in the survey (response rate 70 percent). Of these seven hospitals, only 2 (28.5 percent) had any 2-PAM on hand (4 and 6 g). Despite the existence of a region-wide memorandum of understanding that includes medication sharing, only two hospitals' responses included awareness of this agreement. Two hospitals had considered the problem of inadequate 2-PAM supplies before receiving the survey. Five of 7 (71.4 percent) hospitals would consider accessing the SNS if the need for antidotes were exceeded by their own supply. CONCLUSION: Recognition of regional planning for sharing of antidotes such as 2-PAM is lacking in the surveyed region and could lead to inability to care for large number of patients affected by an intentional or accidental large-scale release of acetylcholinesterase inhibitors.

Sulfur mustard exposure presenting to a community emergency department.

We report dermal exposure to a chemical warfare agent, sulfur mustard, in a 28-year-old commercial fisherman. Chemical warfare agents such as sulfur mustard are considered potential terrorist weapons, and suspected exposure requires notification of federal authorities. We address potential pitfalls when alerting authorities and methods to avoid such obstacles, and we describe the clinical management of sulfur mustard toxicity.

Pandemic influenza: implications for preparation and delivery of critical care services.

In a 5-week span during the 1918 influenza A pandemic, more than 2000 patients were admitted to Cook County Hospital in Chicago, with a diagnosis of either influenza or pneumonia; 642 patients, approximately 31% of those admitted, died, with deaths occurring predominantly in patients of age 25 to 30 years. This review summarizes basic information on the biology, epidemiology, control, treatment and prevention of influenza overall, and then addresses the potential impact of pandemic influenza in an intensive care unit setting. Issues that require consideration include workforce staffing and safety, resource management, alternate sites of care surge of patients, altered standards of care, and crisis communication.

Mother Nature versus human nature: public compliance with evacuation and quarantine.

Effectively controlling the spread of contagious illnesses has become a critical focus of disaster planning. It is likely that quarantine will be a key part of the overall public health strategy utilised during a pandemic, an act of bioterrorism or other emergencies involving contagious agents. While the United States lacks recent experience of large-scale quarantines, it has considerable accumulated experience of large-scale evacuations. Risk perception, life circumstance, work-related issues, and the opinions of influential family, friends and credible public spokespersons all play a role in determining compliance with an evacuation order. Although the comparison is not reported elsewhere to our knowledge, this review of the principal factors affecting compliance with evacuations demonstrates many similarities with those likely to occur during a quarantine. Accurate identification and understanding of barriers to compliance allows for improved planning to protect the public more effectively.