Terrorism questions demand ready answersby Marcia Reinhardt and Teri Lynn HerbertMUSC Library Public Services and Education Division What are the signs and symptoms of ricin poisoning? What are appropriate steps to take in the event of the release of a chemical or biological agent inside a building? How might children react to trauma or disaster? The answers to these questions and many others are found on the MUSC Library’s revamped and expanded Web site relating to terrorism and bioterrorism: http://terrorism.library.musc.edu/. The new Web site, providing informational resources to a wide variety of groups on campus and across South Carolina, was created by the Reference and Systems departments of the library. An impetus for expanding the library’s terrorism Web site was the Association of American Medical Colleges (http://www.aamc.org/newsroom/bioterrorism/) educational plan, designed to assist institutions in meeting the curricular needs resulting from terrorism. Many of the exotic biological and chemical agents receive brief mention in standard textbooks, so the resources on this Web site provide auxiliary information. The United States armed services provides in-depth perspectives on biological and chemical warfare, radiation injuries, blast injuries, and mass casualties. The Web site also features links to specific educational units such as BT CREATE: A Customizable Bioterrorism Tabletop Exercise Builder (http://www.naccho.org/prod140.cfm). Educational institutions that have developed significant units related to terrorism are included. One such program is Mass Prophylaxis/Vaccination Campaign Staffing Model (http://www.ahrq.gov/research/biomodel/index.asp) from the Weill Medical College of Cornell University. The page’s format consists of a set of topics appearing on the right side of the screen with the left side providing a list of organizations having special roles in dealing with terrorism. The nuclear, biological, and chemical agents list provides diagnostic and treatment resources a clinician might use in patient care. Since many of the agents in this group are equally dangerous to those providing care and to the patient, information on preventive measures is included. Many potential agents of bioterrorism can cause diseases that practitioners have never seen. Chemical agents may cause bizarre symptoms beyond the experience of most health care professionals. These links to information on descriptions, symptoms, diagnosis, and precautions supplement a clinician’s knowledge of terrorism agents. A continuing education and training section provides links to courses and training opportunities for first responders, nurses, physicians, and all other health professionals. The links cover a variety of formats: online courses, announcements of workshops, electronic manuals and tutorials. Some of the materials are not specifically related to terrorism but cover common medical situations that are likely to occur in the event of a terrorist attack. Preparedness links provide information for the whole spectrum of the population. Links are provided to local, state, and national organizations with responsibility for large-scale community preparedness. Especially significant are links with information on laboratory handling of hazardous materials and how to handle breaches in safety surrounding those materials. Also included are links designed for the individual to prepare his or her home in the event of acts of terrorism. Many materials found in this section are from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the Department of Homeland Security. A variety of mental health problems such as anxiety, post-traumatic stress disorder, and depression surfaced after Sept. 11, 2001. This Web site includes a section relating to those issues. Other links lead to sites suggesting how health professionals and parents might talk to children about disasters and terrorism. Two resources found in this section are the online manuals, Field Manual for Mental Health and Human Service Workers in Major Disasters (http://www.mentalhealth.org/publications/allpubs/ADM90-537/default.asp#toc) and the Training Manual for Mental Health and Human Service Workers in Major Disasters (http://www.mentalhealth.org/publications/allpubs/ADM90-538/Default.asp). The library feels a strong commitment to providing information for the public, and a collection of links designed for the consumer is included. Many of these resources deal with how members of the public can protect themselves from various agents terrorists might use. The Federal Emergency Management Agency provides a pamphlet, Are You Ready? A Guide to Citizen Preparedness (http://www.fema.gov/areyouready/). Finally, the Web site includes a general subject listing of the materials included on each page. The column on the left side of the page provides links to significant national and state government organizations having informational and/or protective roles relating to terrorism. The current threat level advisory issued by the Department of Homeland Security also appears. Although many links appear on the Web site, it is possible that a useful link was omitted. If you are aware of any links not on the Web site, please provide us with that information. Each page includes a feedback link for contacting the library. Friday, Aug. 27, 2004
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