The day-to-day medical needs of individuals remain integral to their health and well-being during disasters. Patients will need reliable access to medications and care for conditions and injuries that are not related to the chemical incident. Planners should consider ways to ensure priority care needs are met and access to pharmaceuticals continues. For example, planning should consider the needs of diabetic patients, patients on dialysis, patients receiving antiretroviral therapy, and individuals receiving addiction treatments, as well as other elements of populations that have historically faced disruptions in care during all types of disasters.
The wider public health context in which a chemical incident occurs will also influence the ability of local health and medical personnel to provide timely and appropriate care to survivors. For much of 2020, for example, normal day-to-day medical care was constrained as facility space, staff, and equipment/supply stocks (including PPE) were stretched thin due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In an area where demands for medical care are already high and healthcare system resilience low, response to a mass casualty chemical incident is likely to face significant challenges.
Calling upon mutual-aid agreements with other jurisdictions may not be possible if nearby medical systems are facing similar situations. Although difficult, planning for such extremes should be considered, and should include procedures for enacting necessary extra protective measures (PPE, distancing, and health screening), and filling extra supply needs (cleaning and disinfectant products). Federal resources that may be tapped for assistance in these types of situations are discussed in Section 2.