title: The effect of a chemical protective ensemble on intravenous line insertion by emergency medical technicians.
abstract: Protective gear is mandatory for medical personnel treating casualties in a contaminated environment. In the present study, we assessed the ability of emergency medical technicians to insert an intravenous line in this situation. Sixty emergency medical technicians were randomized to a control group, wearing fatigues, and a study group, wearing full protective gear. The ability to insert an intravenous line in healthy volunteers was assessed 1, 2, 4, and 8 hours after randomization. We found no effect of protective gear (p = 0.543) or time in protective gear (p = 0.8869) on success rate or on time needed for successful task completion (p = 0.4005 and p = 0.9021, respectively). The overall success rate was 58.6%, 65% in the unprotected state and 56% in the protected state, and the time was 303 +/- 115 and 351 +/- 113 seconds, respectively. These findings suggest that introduction of an intravenous line is possible but time consuming even after a prolonged stay in full protective gear. Alternative methods for antidotal treatment, such as the use of automatic autoinjectors for intramuscular administration, might be suggested.
authors.affiliation: Israel Defense Forces Medical Corps.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Berkenstadt
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Arad
authors.forename: O
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Nahtomi
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Atsmon
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002406:Catheterization, Peripheral / Q000379:methods*; D002618:Chemical Warfare / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002983:Clinical Competence; D004634:Emergency Medical Technicians; D006801:Humans; D007557:Israel; D016015:Logistic Models; D008887:Military Medicine; D008889:Military Personnel; D011481:Protective Clothing / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D013997:Time Factors