title: What do you do if no one knows what to do?
abstract: The Emergency Preparedness Committee in the emergency department at a Level I Trauma Center identified a knowledge gap related to hazardous materials and items (Hazmat) incidents and their associated decontamination procedures. This led to the development of a "user-friendly" resource guide for key staff, specifically charge nurses, to utilize during Hazmat situations. Implementing this reference book has significantly increased the number of identified Hazmat incidents. The staff members involved have utilized the reference book to effectively guide them through the Hazmat incidents.
authors.affiliation: Lehigh Valley Health Network, Office of Emergency Management, Allentown, Pennsylvania 18103, USA. david_j.wojs@LVH.com
authors.forename: David J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Wojs
mesh_terms: D002983:Clinical Competence; D003666:Decontamination / Q000379:methods*; D004509:Education, Nursing, Continuing; D016529:Emergency Nursing / Q000193:education / Q000379:methods; D004636:Emergency Service, Hospital / Q000458:organization & administration; D004638:Emergency Treatment / Q000379:methods / Q000451:nursing; D015386:Hazardous Substances / Q000009:adverse effects; D006764:Hospitals, Community; D006801:Humans; D007318:Inservice Training; D020380:Needs Assessment; D009718:Nurse Administrators / Q000193:education / Q000458:organization & administration; D015402:Nursing Education Research; D009741:Nursing Staff, Hospital / Q000193:education; D010414:Pennsylvania; D015397:Program Evaluation; D012013:Reference Books; D014193:Trauma Centers / Q000458:organization & administration
chemical_list: D015386:Hazardous Substances