Safety of the Volunteer Staff Case Study Austrian Red Cross June, Rome 2015 Stefan Schoenhacker

2 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross CONTENTS The Austrian Red Cross in a nutshell Safety of the Volunteer Staff part I: Rescue and Ambulance Service Safety of the Volunteer Staff part II: Disaster relief / CBRN Protection unit Summary

3 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross CONTENTS The Austrian Red Cross in a nutshell Safety of the Volunteer Staff part I: Rescue and Ambulance Service Safety of the Volunteer Staff part II: Disaster relief / CBRN Protection unit Summary

4 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross THE AUSTRIAN RED CROSS AND ITS FEDERAL STRUCTURE Headquarters operates on national and international level, coordinates all relevant activities and monitors foreign, national and supranational operations 9 regional branches corporate bodies with operational independence 137 local branches regional subsidiaries for the implementation of tasks

5 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross THE AUSTRIAN RED CROSS AUSTRIA´S LARGEST HUMANITARIAN NPO volunteers 7.465employees 4.400community servants supporting members and donors Status 2014

6 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross RESCUE AND AMBULANCE SERVICE Best known area of the Austrian Red Cross The Austrian Red Cross provides these services across the whole country

7 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross CONTENTS The Austrian Red Cross in a nutshell Safety of the Volunteer Staff part I: Rescue and Ambulance Service Safety of the Volunteer Staff part II: Disaster relief / CBRN Protection unit Summary

8 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross SAFETY OF THE VOLUNTEER STAFF I: Rescue and Ambulance Service Scenario 1: Nuclear Power Plant accident There are no NPPs in Austria But 2,6 Million Austrians live within 100 km from a NPP in a neighbouring country

9 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS Over 2,6 million Austrians live within 100 km from a NPP. Source:

10 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross SAFETY OF THE VOLUNTEER STAFF I: Rescue and Ambulance Service Objective: To keep up the rescue and ambulance service during the contamination phase of a NPP accident while ensuring the radiological safety of the staff Source: Radiation Protection Guidance, Federal Ministry of the Interior.

11 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross SAFETY OF THE VOLUNTEER STAFF I: Rescue and Ambulance Service Solution: - Independent dose rate measurements - Independent risk assessment - No pregnant women in service - Pilestock of FFP3 masks

12 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross SAFETY OF THE VOLUNTEER STAFF I: Rescue and Ambulance Service Scenario 2: small-scale radiological event Accident at Austrian facility Accident with dangerous source Radiological terrorism

13 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross SAFETY OF THE VOLUNTEER STAFF I: Rescue and Ambulance Service Solution: - Fire brigade takes care of rescue and decon - Decontaminated person gets immediate treatment and early transport - Self-protection: FFP3 masks - New concept in late 2015

14 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross CONTENTS The Austrian Red Cross in a nutshell Safety of the Volunteer Staff part I: Rescue and Ambulance Service Safety of the Volunteer Staff part II: Disaster relief / CBRN Protection unit Summary

15 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross SAFETY OF THE VOLUNTEER STAFF II: Disaster relief / CBRN Protection unit The unit exists since the 1960s Original purpose: Preparations for relief after Nuclear War Nowadays: - Keep up RC services during CBRN situations - Emergency medical care for cont. persons - Perform CBRN operations Source: Austrian Red Cross Vienna Branch, Archive.

16 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross SAFETY OF THE VOLUNTEER STAFF II: Disaster relief / CBRN Protection unit Keep up RC services during CBRN situations Examples: 2009 H1N1 Pandemic, 2014 Ebola CBRN Protection unit offers training for the staff of Rescue and Ambulance service on: - proper hand disinfection - proper use of PPE (Personal Protective Equipment)

17 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross SAFETY OF THE VOLUNTEER STAFF II: Disaster relief / CBRN Protection unit Keep up RC services during CBRN situations It is easy to stay safe when you only train others!

18 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross SAFETY OF THE VOLUNTEER STAFF II: Disaster relief / CBRN Protection unit Emergency medical care for cont. persons Fire brigade takes care of rescue and decon However, with many casualties, there is delay Perform CBRN operations RN: Measurement of dose rate and contamination, taking environmental samples, …

19 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross SAFETY OF THE VOLUNTEER STAFF II: Disaster relief / CBRN Protection unit How can you guarantee the safety of the staff in a contaminated area? Source: Austrian Red Cross Vienna Branch, Documentation unit.

20 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross SAFETY OF THE VOLUNTEER STAFF II: Disaster relief / CBRN Protection unit Define who does the job All team members feel healthy All team members are properly trained Team includes a trained commander and at least two members with EM background

21 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross SAFETY OF THE VOLUNTEER STAFF II: Disaster relief / CBRN Protection unit Define where you perform your actions (1) CBRN Protection unit can perform under any biological, radiological or nuclear conditions For chemical environments, expert´s advice (chemist) is needed!

22 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross SAFETY OF THE VOLUNTEER STAFF II: Disaster relief / CBRN Protection unit Define where you perform your actions (2) Avoid direct contact with CBRN agents Exception: Emergency medical care for contaminated persons No entry into the hot zone (red) Source: HazMat Guidance, Federal Fire Fighter´s Association.

23 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross SAFETY OF THE VOLUNTEER STAFF II: Disaster relief / CBRN Protection unit Define rules for action Staff safety is always priority #1 All actions in contaminated areas must be properly planned Signal for immediate pull-out must be defined If someone starts to feel sick, the whole team pulls out immediately

24 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross SAFETY OF THE VOLUNTEER STAFF II: Disaster relief / CBRN Protection unit Define rules for action Always work in teams of at least 3 persons If one team enters the contaminated area, another team of 3 persons must be ready to perform a rescue operation

25 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross SAFETY OF THE VOLUNTEER STAFF II: Disaster relief / CBRN Protection unit Include emergency situations in training

26 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross SAFETY OF THE VOLUNTEER STAFF II: Disaster relief / CBRN Protection unit Select the proper PPE Safety boots with steel toe-cap Protective suit Resistant gloves Respiratory protection Safety goggles

27 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross SAFETY OF THE VOLUNTEER STAFF II: Disaster relief / CBRN Protection unit

28 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross SAFETY OF THE VOLUNTEER STAFF II: Disaster relief / CBRN Protection unit Be prepared for the worst Have a rescue team at hand Have emergency medical technicians nearby Always remember that staff safety is priority #1 Never hesitate to quit an operation for reasons of staff safety

29 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross CONTENTS The Austrian Red Cross in a nutshell Safety of the Volunteer Staff part I: Rescue and Ambulance Service Safety of the Volunteer Staff part II: Disaster relief / CBRN Protection unit Summary

30 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross SUMMARY (1) To guarantee staff safety, you have to: –Define who does the job –Define where you perform your actions –Define rules for action –Include emergency situations in training –Select the proper PPE –Be prepared for the worst

And above all: Training, training, training! 31 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross SUMMARY (2)

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33 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross CONTACT Stefan Schoenhacker Austrian Red Cross, Vienna Branch CBRN Protection unit   

ABBREVIATIONS CBRNChemical, Biological, Radiological, Nuclear EMEmergency Medicine HazMatHazardous Materials NPPNuclear Power Plant PPEPersonal Protective Equipment RCRed Cross 34 Safety of the Volunteer Staff - Case Study Austrian Red Cross