CBRN incidents and PSS

The risk regarding incidents in which toxic substances (CBRN - Chemical, Biological, Radioactive, Nuclear) are released has increased in almost all EU Member States. The high degree of uncertainty, the unknown health risks and the fact that consequences might stretch a long period of time puts a heavy strain on emergency forces, like the fire-brigade, police and hospital staff. In the preparation of responding to CBRN incidents these aspects are not sufficiently taken into account. This project focuses on this deficiency through developing and testing a training for civil protection forces, hospital staff and volunteers. And also by adapting the Dutch Guidelines for ‘Psychosocial support for uniformed service organizations’ specifically to these situations.

Partners in the project are: Technisches Hilfswerk (Germany), Alexianer Hospital Krefeld (Germany), Bundesamt für Bevölkerungsschutz und Katastrophenhilfe Bonn (Germany), Ministerio del Interior, Direction General de Proteccion civil y emergencias (Spain) and Impact, Dutch knowledge and advice center for post-disaster psychosocial care (The Netherlands).

The project runs until January 2013.