National Library of Medicine Releases Chemical Hazards Emergency Medical Management (CHEMM)

[Editor's Note: This is a reprint of an announcement published on NLM-Tox-Enviro-Health-L, an e-mail announcement list available from the NLM Division of Specialized Information Services. To subscribe to this list, please see the NLM-TOX-ENVIRO-HEALTH-L Join, Leave, or Change Options page.]

The National Library of Medicine® has released Chemical Hazards Emergency Medical Management (CHEMM).

Chemical emergencies are high risk events that require first responders to quickly make a series of complex decisions to minimize the risk of injury to their patients and themselves. The tools in CHEMM provide a comprehensive resource to help responders make safer decisions and provide them with the right information when it is needed most.

CHEMM enables first responders and other healthcare providers and planners to plan for, respond to, recover from, and mitigate the effects of mass-casualty incidents involving accidental or terrorist chemical releases.

CHEMM enhances and builds on the successes of the suite of Emergency Medical Management tools that began with the Radiation Emergency Medical Management (REMM) Web-based resource, which provides information for health care providers about clinical diagnosis and treatment of radiation and other injuries anticipated following radiological and nuclear emergencies.

CHEMM is a Web-based resource that is downloadable in advance so that it is available during an event if the Internet is not accessible. It provides evidence-based information and guidance on a wide variety of topics, including quick chemical identification, acute patient care guidelines, and initial event activities.

CHEMM and REMM are the result of collaborative efforts between the United States Department of Health and Human Services, the Office of the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) - Office of Preparedness and Emergency Operations (OPEO), the National Library of Medicine - Division of Specialized Information Services (NLM®/SIS), as well as many medical, emergency response, toxicology, industrial hygiene, and other experts.

For more information see: CHEMM Web-Based Resource Enhances Planning and Response to Chemical Emergencies.

National Library of Medicine Releases Chemical Hazards Emergency Medical Management (CHEMM). NLM Tech Bull. 2011 Jul-Aug;(381):e7.