THE PROJECT
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THE PROJECT
C. Locatelli 1, R. Butera 1, G. Minuco 2, C. Mazzoleni 3, C. Varango 1,V. Lanza 4, S.M. Candura 1, L. Manzo1, 51. National Toxicology Information Center- Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS - Pavia (Italy)2. Bioengineering Service of Veruno- Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS - Pavia (Italy) | 3. Bioengineering Service of Pavia- Salvatore Maugeri Foundation, IRCCS - Pavia (Italy)4. Anesthesia and ICU department of Buccheri La Ferla Fatebenefratelli Hospital, Palermo5. Department of Internal Medicine and Therapy, Pharmacology and Toxicology Division, University of Pavia
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The aim of this project supported by the Minister of Health is to organize an effective response to possible serious chemical accidents. A "serious chemical accident" can be defined as a catastrophe which brings about the release of harmful chemical substances which in turn cause serious intoxication in at least 20 people. These accidents, less rare than one might think, even in our country (remember the dioxine in Seveso, for example) do not receive the same attention from the Civil Defence Structure as do other emergencies, like earthquakes, floods and fires. The consequence is that competence in the field of acute toxicology, not well developed in our health care service, is completely insufficient when confronting serious collective intoxications. In fact, reference centers equipped with technology for testing toxic substances and intensive care structures equipped with antidotes and competent personnel for the treatment of intoxicated patients are lacking in our services. The National Toxicology Information Center of the Salvatore Maugeri Foundation of Pavia (CNIT) has promoted experimentation for the application of telematic technology in the toxicological field, which allows for the use of Telepresence and Teleconsultation. With a connection through the ISDN telephone network, the life support teams are connected directly to the National Toxicology Information Center (Telepresence), to which they send pictures of the accident site taken with a telecamera. This allows them to follow suggestions for rescue plans and coordinate the distribution of the intoxicated victims in the various hospitals. The National Toxicology Information Center continues to receive images of the patients and of the radiological exams and echographies performed on the patients through a computer hook-up (Teleconsultation). It is therefore possible for the National Toxicology Information Center to send correct therapies to hospitals where there is no particular competence in the toxicological sector, thus increasing the chances of successful treatment of the patients. The project includes the enactment of simulations to test the technology of video-transmissions both from the site of the accident and from the hospital that admits the patients. The following pages show the images and report the description of the simulation taken place in Palermo on June 12, 1996. In addition, a video is also available in AVI 5 mega.
  
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