PURPOSE AND TARGET AUDIENCE
Dr. Dobbs has special experience and training in management of chemical warfare casualties from the time he spent in the United States Air Force. This course begins with an historical overview of chemical casualties. Various nerve agents are discussed with emphasis on the organophosphates.

There are three main objectives of the course, which are to describe the types of chemical warfare agents, recognize signs and symptoms of chemical exposure, and describe how to manage, decontaminate, and treat the victims of a chemical agent attack. Other topics discussed are triage and treatment protocols for a nerve agent exposure. At the end of the presentation there is a case scenario of a person who has possibly been exposed to a chemical.

This course has been designed for physicians in the following specialties: Primary Care, Internal Medicine, Family Practice and Pediatrics. Nurses and any other healthcare professionals interested in the topic are also encouraged to take this course.


CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT
Physician Credit - University of Louisville Continuing Health Sciences Education designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 hours of Category 1 credit toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.

Nursing Credit - This program has been approved by the Kentucky Board of Nursing for 1.8 contact hours through the University of Louisville School of Nursing, provider number 3-0046-01-2013-12, expiration date January 31, 2013. The Kentucky Board of Nursing approval of an individual nursing education provider does not constitute endorsement of program content. Participants must complete entire session, provide license and social security number and complete evaluation to receive contact hours.


INSTRUCTIONS & REGISTRATION
The course is free and takes approximately 1.5 hours. During the course you will watch and listen to a video lecture and view a handout. After reviewing the materials, you will take an online test and receive your results instantly.

If you pass, you will be taken to a web page confirming your continuing education credit, which you will need to print for your records. If you do not pass, you may retake the course as many times as necessary.
To Register For Your Course, Click Here


COURSE DIRECTOR/LECTURER
Michael R. Dobbs, MD
Former Position (at the time lecture was given):
Assistant Professor,
Dept. of Neurology
School of Medicine
University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky

Current Position (as of 10/11/07):
Assistant Professor of Neurology
Residency Program Director
Dept. of Neurology
College Of Medicine
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky


LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Describe the types of chemical warfare agents.
  
  
• Recognize the signs and symptoms of chemical exposure.
  
  
• Describe how to manage, decontaminate, and treat the victims of a chemical agent attack.
  
  

COMMERCIAL SUPPORT
No commercial support was received for this program.


DISCLOSURES
Dr. Dobbs has no disclosures.


ACCREDITATION
The University of Louisville School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.


ORIGINAL RELEASE/TERMINATION DATES
Course Originally Released On: 10/3/07
Date of Most Recent Review: 10/3/07
Course Termination Date: 10/3/10


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
These free courses are sponsored by University of Louisville School of Public Health and Information Sciences and the Center for Health Hazards Preparedness (formerly the Center for Deterrence of Biowarfare and Bioterrorism).

Funding support provided by Bioterrorism and Curriculum Development Program, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).


ADDITIONAL ONLINE COURSES
For information regarding additional Public Health Preparedness Online Courses, click here. For a list of all our online courses, click here.