An evaluation of casualty behaviour during chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear incidents requiring mass decontamination
File(s)
Author(s)
Long, Francis Gareth
Type
Thesis
Abstract
Understanding human behaviour during emergencies is crucial, especially incidents involving chemical, biological, radiological, or nuclear (CBRN) materials requiring mass decontamination. This knowledge will help responders effectively engage with casualties. However, there is limited research on casualty behaviour’s during mass decontamination, with current studies focusing mainly on technical aspects.
This research addresses this challenge, utilising a mixed-methods approach, including a critical literature review, qualitative and quantitative methods with real-world data, expert opinions, and a public visualization experiment.
The literature review identified cognitive behavioural, social-psychological, and cultural aspects of casualty response during mass decontamination, highlighting two significant gaps: the need for holistic examination of casualty behaviour during Hazmat/CBRN incidents and incorporating insights from actual events rather than controlled simulations or hypothetical scenarios.
Qualitative research of real-world incidents led to a behavioural model of casualty behaviour, validated through a survey of 118 evacuees from a Hazmat fire. This informed the development of mass decontamination scenarios to study how long casualties stay at the scene. Quantitative research, involving 1096 participants provided reliable data on the duration casualties are willing await decontamination, identifying average waiting times of 141 minutes and 30 seconds, highlighting the impact of external factors and emergency services' communication and response times.
The thesis concludes with expert-verified recommendations:
Increase the utilization of Interim Decontamination to enhance response times and flexibility.
Direct deployment of Mass Decontamination Units to hospitals, improving accessibility and efficiency.
Create a model for mass decontamination response based on leaver rates identified in the thesis.
Enhance public awareness of Hazmat/CBRN risks and Mass Decontamination capabilities.
Provide training for frontline responders on human behaviour and effective communication strategies for Mass Decontamination.
The novelty, rigour, and impact of the research highlights the need for effective engagement with casualties, impacting guidance, training, and future resourcing.
This research addresses this challenge, utilising a mixed-methods approach, including a critical literature review, qualitative and quantitative methods with real-world data, expert opinions, and a public visualization experiment.
The literature review identified cognitive behavioural, social-psychological, and cultural aspects of casualty response during mass decontamination, highlighting two significant gaps: the need for holistic examination of casualty behaviour during Hazmat/CBRN incidents and incorporating insights from actual events rather than controlled simulations or hypothetical scenarios.
Qualitative research of real-world incidents led to a behavioural model of casualty behaviour, validated through a survey of 118 evacuees from a Hazmat fire. This informed the development of mass decontamination scenarios to study how long casualties stay at the scene. Quantitative research, involving 1096 participants provided reliable data on the duration casualties are willing await decontamination, identifying average waiting times of 141 minutes and 30 seconds, highlighting the impact of external factors and emergency services' communication and response times.
The thesis concludes with expert-verified recommendations:
Increase the utilization of Interim Decontamination to enhance response times and flexibility.
Direct deployment of Mass Decontamination Units to hospitals, improving accessibility and efficiency.
Create a model for mass decontamination response based on leaver rates identified in the thesis.
Enhance public awareness of Hazmat/CBRN risks and Mass Decontamination capabilities.
Provide training for frontline responders on human behaviour and effective communication strategies for Mass Decontamination.
The novelty, rigour, and impact of the research highlights the need for effective engagement with casualties, impacting guidance, training, and future resourcing.
Version
Open Access
Date Issued
2023-11
Date Awarded
2024-08
Copyright Statement
Creative Commons Attribution NonCommercial Licence
License URL
Advisor
Majumdar, Arnab
Carter, Holly
Publisher Department
Civil and Environmental Engineering
Publisher Institution
Imperial College London
Qualification Level
Doctoral
Qualification Name
Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)