[Federal Register: August 6, 2003 (Volume 68, Number 151)]
[Notices]
[Page 46643-46644]
From the Federal Register Online via GPO Access [wais.access.gpo.gov]
[DOCID:fr06au03-100]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention
[60Day-03-104]
Proposed Data Collections Submitted for Public Comment and
Recommendations
In compliance with the requirement of Section 3506(c)(2)(A) of the
Paperwork Reduction Act of 1995 for opportunity for public comment on
proposed data collection projects, the Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) will publish periodic summaries of proposed projects.
To request more information on the proposed projects or to obtain a
copy of the data collection plans and instruments, call the CDC Reports
Clearance Officer on (404) 498-1210.
Comments are invited on: (a) Whether the proposed collection of
information is necessary for the proper performance of the functions of
the agency, including whether the information shall have practical
utility; (b) the accuracy of the agency's estimate of the burden of the
proposed collection of information; (c) ways to enhance the quality,
utility, and clarity of the information to be collected; and (d) ways
to minimize the burden of the collection of information on respondents,
including through the use of automated collection techniques or other
forms of information technology. Send comments to Seleda Perryman, CDC
Assistant Reports Clearance Officer, 1600 Clifton Road, MS-D24,
Atlanta, GA 30333. Written comments should be received within 60 days
of this notice.
Proposed Project: Lessons Learned from Emergency Medical Responses
to Chemically-Contaminated Patients--New--Agency for Toxic Substances
and Disease Registry (ATSDR). Since the September 11, 2001, World Trade
Center Attack, there has been increased interest in improving medical
preparedness for contaminated casualties. Anecdotal evidence and
observations from non-chemical disasters suggests that medical planning
may be based on some assumptions that
[[Page 46644]]
are invalid. For example, planning is often based on the following
assumptions: (1) That victims will be decontaminated by first
responders on the scene; (2) that victims will be transported by
ambulances that can be directed to a hospital designated for
contaminated casualties; and (3) that hospitals will receive advance
notice that casualties will be arriving, so that special preparations
can me made to receive them (e.g., lining floors and walls with plastic
tarps; donning respirators and chemical resistant clothing).
We propose assessing 10 incidents over a three-year period
involving patients treated at hospitals for actual or possible
contamination by chemicals which could pose a threat of illness or
injury to the hospital staff that treat them. Data will be collected
not only from hospitals but from other emergency medical and public
safety organizations, and even members of the public who have become
involved in the response. This is because the actions of these groups
can have a profound effect on how hospitals carry out their emergency
tasks. The lessons-learned during these responses will be collected by
a field research team using semi-structured, open-ended interviews of
those involved in the responses, for example: patients and their
families, hospital staff, police, firefighters, emergency medical
technicians, emergency dispatchers, and others who have knowledge of
the response.
Certain standardized data will also be collected, such as: number
of victims, chemical identity, distribution of casualties among area
hospitals, time of incident, time of hospital notification, type of
protective clothing and respiratory protection used by hospital staff.
A review of the existing field disaster research literature has failed
to identify other studies that have collected this type of information.
The results of the project will be used to develop and update training
materials for hospitals and other emergency responders. There are no
costs to respondents.
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Number of Average burden
Respondents Number of responses per per response Total burden
respondents respondent (in hours) (in hours)
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Emergency Responders............................ 100 2 1 200
Patients and/or Family.......................... 40 2 1 80
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Total....................................... .............. .............. .............. 280
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Dated: July 31, 2003.
Thomas A. Bartenfeld,
Acting Associate Director for Policy, Planning and Evaluation, Centers
for Disease Control and Prevention.
[FR Doc. 03-19979 Filed 8-5-03; 8:45 am]
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