@article{ref1,
title="Psychosocial considerations for mass decontamination",
journal="Radiation protection dosimetry",
year="2010",
author="Lemyre, Louise and Johnson, Charles and Corneil, Wayne",
volume="142",
number="1",
pages="17-23",
abstract="Mass exposure to explosions, infectious agents, foodborne illnesses, chemicals or radiological materials may require mass decontamination that have critical psychosocial implications for the public and for both traditional and non-traditional responders in terms of impact and of response. Five main issues are common to mass decontamination events: (i) perception, (ii) somatisation, (iii) media role and communication, (iv) information sharing, (v) behavioural guidance and (vi) organisational issues. Empirical evidence is drawn from a number of cases, including Chernobyl; Goiania, Brazil; the sarin gas attack in Tokyo; the anthrax attacks in the USA; Three Mile Island; and by features of the 2003 severe acute respiratory syndrome pandemic. In this paper, a common platform for mass casualty management is explored and suggestions for mass interventions are proposed across the complete event timeline, from pre-event threat and warning stages through to the impact and reconstruction phases. Implication for responders, healthcare and emergency infrastructure, public behaviour, screening processes, risk communication and media management are described.<p /> <p>Language: en</p>",
language="en",
issn="0144-8420",
doi="10.1093/rpd/ncq273",
url="http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/rpd/ncq273"
}