No abstract

Incident management depends on early effective communication and collaboration between all agencies involved.

Objectives: The aim of this study is to describe the pattern of ill health after personal incapacitant spray (PIS) exposures reported to the National Poisons Information Service-London (NPIS-L) and the Chemical Incident Response Service and to evaluate the relation between sub-categories of PIS exposure and adverse health effects. Methods: Case series study of patients reported to the NPIS-L, by attending medical personnel during the period 16 January to 31 September 1998. Data collected by questionnaire sent to these medical personnel.Results: Several ''adverse'' symptoms, particularly dermatitis and blisters were reported for cases exposed to police PIS. These cases were more frequent than in those people exposed to non-police PIS. Adverse effects occurring more than six hours after exposure were also observed, which is in conflict with the recorded immediate, short lived, and self limiting symptoms that PIS are designed to cause. Most patients with persisting symptoms required further treatment. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the formulation of CS (o-chlorobenzylidine malononitrile) with MiBK (methyl iso-butyl ketone) used by the police is more harmful that has been previously assumed. If confirmed then the continued use of this formulation should be reviewed because of longer duration of adverse effects. Less concentrated formulations may reduce the severity or persistence of the adverse effects. Most UK police forces now use hand held CS spray canisters containing O-chlorobenzylidine malononitrile dissolved in the solvent methyl iso-butyl ketone (MiBK). In 1996 the National Poisons Information ServiceLondon (NPIS-L) received over 750 emergency personal incapacitant spray (PIS) incident inquiries. This figure probably represents a small fraction of total PIS incidents reported in the UK as the NPIS-L is only usually contacted if advice on patient management is required.

No abstract

This study was designed to establish the levels of knowledge about the management of asthma among primary school teachers in South Essex. A total of 135 primary schools participated in a questionnaire survey, with data analysis being carried out on responses from 517 teaching staff. Findings showed that 47 per cent of respondents reported concern about dealing with a child suffering from asthma. Only 16.1 per cent felt confident in dealing with a child suffering from a severe asthma attack. Less than a third of respondents (29.6 per cent) had received training in the management of asthma. These results reflect the requirement to put new emphasis on greater collaborative and partnership working between the NHS and local education authorities to provide appropriate opportunities to meet this need. Increasing teachers' knowledge and access to resources should result in improved care of children with asthma in schools.