Standard Guide for Operational Guidelines for Initial Response to Suspected Biological Agents and Toxins

Importancia y uso:

5.1 Community knowledge and experience related to emergency response to threats with a biological agent or toxin at the Federal, State, tribal, and local levels has been translated into a standard guide to assist responder agencies’ progress toward the goal of building operational guidelines for the sample collection and response to a potential biological agent or toxin. The guide is intended to enhance the ability, knowledge, and communication between emergency response team representatives, including fire department, HAZMAT, local law enforcement, Federal Bureau of Investigation, and public health personnel as well as other responders that are responsible for responding to a threat incident involving a biological agent or toxin, or both.

5.2 This guide supports, and should be utilized as an accompaniment to standard sample collection methods (for example, Practices E2458). Standard guidance insures reduced exposure risk, minimizes on-site sample consumption for preservation of public health samples and forensic samples, reduces variability associated with sample handling, and analysis, and increases the reliability of the sampling procedure when collecting a sample of suspect biological agents and toxins.

5.3 Development of this standard was at the request and with considerable contributions from the public health and first responder communities in the United States to facilitate collection and evaluation of potential biological agents and toxins in the field.

5.4 This guide should be incorporated as a reference in Emergency Operation Centers (EOCs), emergency operations plans (EOPs) and Multiagency Coordination Systems (MACS) to assist in policy formation and development of strategic objectives consistent with the needs of the Incident Commander (IC).

5.5 Documents developed from this standard guide should be referenced and revised as necessary and reviewed on a two-year cycle (at a minimum). The review shall consider new and updated requirements and guidance, technologies, and other information or equipment that might have a significant impact on the management and outcome of biological incidents.

Subcomité:

E54.01

Referida por:

E2771-11R19E01, E2458-17, E3095-17R24, E2852-13R21

Volúmen:

15.08

Número ICS:

13.300 (Protection against dangerous goods)

Palabras clave:

biological agent; field screening; planning; response; sampling; threat; toxin; training;