The basic health care system in a crisis situation after the use of weapons of mass destruction

• Authors: Mateusz Kuczabski
• Languages of publication: EN

Abstracts

EN

Weapons of mass destruction pose a threat that all health care institutions should be prepared for. Every health care centre can be an essential part of the joint system of response when a critical situation occurs. Although, since 1945, no nuclear weapon has been employed in any armed conflict, cases of both chemical and radiological weapon use have been reported. Taking into account the analysts’ opinion that the 21st century has begun a super-terrorism era (Alexander and Hoenig 2001, p. 7) and, hence, the increased interest of terrorist organisations in acquiring mass destruction weapons, it is difficult to point out the location of a possible attack. A terrorist attack with the use of weapons of mass destruction may happen in any place, both urban and rural. According to the strategy adopted in the event of a critical situation resulting from such attack, the heavily injured should be transported to hospitals located in the closest location of the incident at the proper stage of evacuation. The problem is, however, to prepare a sufficient number of places for all victims of an attack and to provide them with professional medical care. In this context, it seems justified to consider the role and capabilities of the basic (primary) health care, as the most popular element of the health care system that has the resources to operate in a critical situation, and as the institution protecting citizens’ lives and health, i.e. the national safety attributes.

Keywords

EN

weapons of mass destruction; crisis situation; basic health care; threat

• Publisher: Akademia Sztuki Wojennej
• Journal: Security and Defence Quarterly
• Year: 2019
• Volume: 25
• Issue: 3
• Pages: 70-85

Dates

published

2019-06-28

Contributors

author

Mateusz Kuczabski

• Faculty of National Security War Studies University, Warsaw, Poland

References

• Alexander, Y., and Hoenig, M., 2001, Superterroryzm biologiczny, chemiczny i nuklearny Warsaw: Bellona.
• Center for Disease Control and Prevention, 2002. Suspected cutaneous anthrax in a laboratory worker-Texas. MMWR Morb Mortal Wkly Rep., 5 (51), 279–281.
• Department of Defense, 2015. INSTRUCTION NUMBER 3150.09.
• Eisele, Ch., 2008. The Golden Hour. Journal of Emergency Medical Services.
• Główny Urząd Statystyczny (Central Statistical Offi ce), 2017. Powierzchnia i ludność w przekroju terytorialnym w 2017 roku. [online]. Available from: www.stat.gov.pl [Accessed 18 Mar 2018].
• Jenny, J. and Limage, S., 2018, Combating the spread of WMD: A success story for the U.S.-E.U. Partnership [online]. Texas National Security Network, War on the rocks. University of Texas. Available from: https://warontherocks.com/2018/03/combating-spread-weapons-mass-destruction-success-story-u-s-e-u-partnership/ [Accessed 24 Mar 2018].
• Kristensen, H. M. and Norris, R. S., 2017. United States nuclear forces. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 73 (1), 48-57. DOI: 10.1080/00963402.2016.1264213.
• Meer van der, S., 2017. CBRN weapons. Thematic Study Clingendael Strategic Monitor 02.2017. Hague: Clingendael.
• Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia (National Health Fund), 2017. Liczba świadczeniodawców w Polsce w 2017 roku. [online]. Available from: www.nfz.gov.pl [Accessed 24 Mar 2018].
• Nuclear Threat Initiative (NTI), 2015. Zrozumienie zagrożeń chemicznych. [online]. Available from: www.nti.org/threats/chemical/ [Accessed 20 Mar 2018].
• Ogólnopolski System Ochrony Zdrowia (National Health Care System), 2017. Liczba szpitali ogólnych w województwach w 2017 roku. [online]. Available from: www.osoz.pl [Accessed 20 Mar 2018].
• Weiss, L., 2015. On fear and nuclear terrorism. Bulletin of the Atomic Scientists, 71 (2), 75-87, DOI: 10.1177/0096340215571909.
• Żuber M., 2015. Broń Masowego Rażenia w działalności terrorystycznej. Warsaw: Difin.

Identifiers

DOI

10.35467/sdq/106083