Availability and use of medications by prehospital providers trained to manage medical complications of patients in hazardous materials incidents

Authors

  • K. Moses Mhayamaguru, MD
  • Joshua B. Gaither, MD https://orcid.org/0000-0001-8812-0530
  • Robert N. E. French, MD, MPH
  • Nicholas D. Christopher
  • Kristina E. Waters, BS, MS
  • Isrealia Jado, BS
  • Amber D. Rice, MD, MS
  • Daniel Beskind, MD, MPH
  • Mary C. Knotts, MD
  • Jennifer Ronnebaum, MBA
  • Jennifer Smith, MD, PharmD
  • Frank G. Walter, MD

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5055/ajdm.2021.0404

Keywords:

hazardous material, hazmat, antidotes, prehospital

Abstract

Introduction: Little is known about prehospital availability and use of medications to treat patients from hazardous materials (hazmat) medical emergencies. The aim of this study was to identify the availability and frequency of use of medications for patients in hazmat incidents by paramedics with advanced training to care for these patients.

Methods: A prospectively validated survey was distributed to United States paramedics with advanced training in the medical management of patients from hazmat incidents who successfully completed a 16-hour Advanced Hazmat Life Support (AHLS) Provider Course from 1999 to 2017. The survey questioned hazmat medication availability, storage, and frequency of use. Hazmat medications were considered to have been used if administered anytime within the past 5 years. For analyses, medications were grouped into those with hazmat indications only and those with multiple indications.

Results: The survey email was opened by 911 course participants and 784 of these completed the survey (86.1 percent). Of these 784 respondents, 279 (35.6 percent) reported carrying dedicated hazmat medication kits, ie, tox-boxes, and 505 (64.4 percent) did not carry tox-boxes. For those medications specifically for hazmat use, hydroxocobalamin was most commonly available, either within or not within a dedicated tox-box. Of the 784 respondents, 313 (39.9 percent) reported carrying hydroxocobalamin and 69 (8.8 percent) reported administering it within the past 5 years. For medications with multiple indications, availability and use varied: for example, of the 784 respondents, albuterol was available to 699 (89.2 percent) and used by 572 (73.0 percent), while calcium gluconate was available to 247 (31.5 percent) and used by 80 (10.2 percent) within the last 5 years.

Conclusion: Paramedics with advanced training in the medical management of patients in hazmat incidents reported limited availability and use of medications to treat patients in hazmat incidents.

Author Biographies

K. Moses Mhayamaguru, MD

Mayo Clinic College of Medicine, Rochester, Minnesota

Joshua B. Gaither, MD

Department of Emergency Medicine, Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, University of Arizona, College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona

Robert N. E. French, MD, MPH

Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, University of Arizona, College of Medicine, Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center, Tucson, Arizona

Nicholas D. Christopher

University of Arizona, College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona

Kristina E. Waters, BS, MS

Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, Tucson, Arizona

Isrealia Jado, BS

Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, Tucson, Arizona

Amber D. Rice, MD, MS

Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, University of Arizona, College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona

Daniel Beskind, MD, MPH

Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, University of Arizona, College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona

Mary C. Knotts, MD

University of Arizona, College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona

Jennifer Ronnebaum, MBA

Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, Tucson, Arizona

Jennifer Smith, MD, PharmD

Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, University of Arizona, College of Medicine, Tucson, Arizona

Frank G. Walter, MD

Arizona Emergency Medicine Research Center, University of Arizona, College of Medicine, Arizona Poison and Drug Information Center, Tucson, Arizona

References

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Published

09/01/2021

How to Cite

Mhayamaguru, MD, K. M., J. B. Gaither, MD, R. N. E. French, MD, MPH, N. D. Christopher, K. E. Waters, BS, MS, I. Jado, BS, A. D. Rice, MD, MS, D. Beskind, MD, MPH, M. C. Knotts, MD, J. Ronnebaum, MBA, J. Smith, MD, PharmD, and F. G. Walter, MD. “Availability and Use of Medications by Prehospital Providers Trained to Manage Medical Complications of Patients in Hazardous Materials Incidents”. American Journal of Disaster Medicine, vol. 16, no. 3, Sept. 2021, pp. 215-23, doi:10.5055/ajdm.2021.0404.

Issue

Vol. 16 No. 3 (2021): Summer

Section

Articles

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