title: Clinical care in the "Hot Zone".
abstract: The threat of chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents is unlikely to decrease and preparations to deal with this type of incident are well established in most European emergency medical systems. In the UK medical care is not currently provided in the "Hot" or contaminated zone. This article discusses the background to the current threat and suggests that, where survivors are present in the "Hot Zone", medical care should be started there to minimise delay and maximise the chances of survival.
authors.affiliation: Academic Department of Military Emergency Medicine, Royal Centre for Defence Medicine, Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham, UK.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Byers
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Russell
authors.forename: D J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Lockey
mesh_terms: D000931:Antidotes / Q000627:therapeutic use; D023482:Bioterrorism / Q000517:prevention & control; D051337:Chemical Terrorism / Q000517:prevention & control; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000379:methods*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D006801:Humans; D017146:Models, Organizational; D011482:Protective Devices; D018788:Radioactive Hazard Release / Q000517:prevention & control; D023481:Terrorism / Q000517:prevention & control*; D014218:Triage / Q000458:organization & administration; D006113:United Kingdom; D014947:Wounds and Injuries / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000931:Antidotes