title: Hazmat disaster preparedness in Hong Kong: what are the hazardous materials on Lantau, Lamma, and Hong Kong Islands?
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Hazmat disaster preparedness is critical, especially as Hong Kong prepares for major international events, such as the 2008 Olympic Equestrian Games. No published medical study describes the identities and quantities of hazardous materials (HMs) in Hong Kong and lists what antidotes are needed for these dangerous goods (DGs). This study describes what HMs are most common in Hong Kong to prioritize disaster preparedness and training.
  
  
  METHODS
  A descriptive, cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, specifically Lantau, Lamma, and Hong Kong Islands.
  
  
  METHODS
  The Hong Kong Fire Services Department (HKFSD) Dangerous Goods Database (DGD).
  
  
  METHODS
  Descriptive statistical analyses with Stata 9.2.
  
  
  METHODS
  Identifying and quantifying HMs in the HKFSD DGD.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Most HMs do not have antidotes. The most common HMs with recognized antidotes are carbon monoxide, methylene chloride, fluorides, cyanides, nitriles, hydrazine, methanol, and nitrates. The most common categories of DGs are substances giving off inflammable vapors, compressed gases, and corrosive and poisonous substances.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Hazmat disaster preparedness and training should emphasize these most common categories of DGs. Disaster planning should ensure adequate antidotes for HMs with recognized antidotes, ie, oxygen for carbon monoxide and methylene chloride; calcium gluconate and calcium chloride for fluorides; hydroxocobalamin or amyl nitrite, sodium nitrite, and sodium thiosulfate for cyanides and nitriles; pyridoxine for hydrazine; fomepizole or ethanol for methanol; and methylene blue for methemoglobinemia produced by nitrates. Supportive care is essential for patients exposed to HMs because most DGs do not have antidotes.
authors.affiliation: Bureau of Emergency Preparedness and Response, Arizona Department of Health Services, Tucson, USA.
authors.forename: Frank G
authors.initials: FG
authors.lastname: Walter
authors.forename: Jimmy Tak-shing
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Billie
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Winegard
authors.forename: Peter B
authors.initials: PB
authors.lastname: Chase
authors.forename: Farshad
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Shirazi
authors.forename: Yuk-Yin
authors.initials: YY
authors.lastname: Chow
authors.forename: Melanie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: de Boer
authors.forename: Kurt
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Denninghoff
mesh_terms: D000931:Antidotes; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods; D004189:Disaster Planning / Q000379:methods*; D004632:Emergency Medical Services / Q000458:organization & administration* / Q000592:standards; D015386:Hazardous Substances; D006723:Hong Kong; D006801:Humans; D023481:Terrorism / Q000517:prevention & control
chemical_list: D000931:Antidotes; D015386:Hazardous Substances