Emergency Response Resources

Firefighters, Emergency Medical Personnel, Other First Responders

Protecting Emergency Responders, Volume 3:  Safety Management in Disaster and Terrorism Response
Background and recommendations for improving safety management at large-scale disaster sites.  Covers natural and manmade disasters, including terrorism.See Protecting Emergency Responders Volumes 1 & 2 for more information on terrorism response.

Fact Sheet for Workers in Secondary Response and Other Supporting Roles
FAQs About Exposure to Dusts and Gases.

Protecting Emergency Responders: Lessons Learned from Terrorist Attacks
External Link: http://www.rand.org/publications/CF/CF176/
Summary of a December 2001 working conference, sponsored by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Interim Recommendations for Firefighters and Other First Responders for the Selection and Use of Protective Clothing and Respirators Against Biological Agents
Recommendations for selecting personal protective equipment for use against biological agents.

NIOSH Alert: Preventing Injuries and Deaths of Fire Fighters
DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 94-125
En Español
Includes current standards, case studies, recommendations for fire fighters and fire departments.

NIOSH Fire Fighter Fatality Investigation and Prevention Program
Includes fire fighter fatality/injury data, SCBA information, links to other FF sites, more...

NIOSH Alert: Preventing Injuries and Deaths of Fire Fighters due to Structural Collapse
DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 99-146
Includes current standards, case studies, recommendations for fire fighters and fire departments.

Your Safety 1st - Railroad Crossing Safety for Emergency Responders
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2003-121
( PDF only (22 pg. 328 KB)

Bloodborne Infectious Disease

Bloodborne Infectious Diseases Topic Page
Includes needlesticks & sharps, management and treatment guidelines, surveillance, engineering controls & personal protective equipment, links to other BBID sites, more...

A Curriculum Guide for Public-Safety and Emergency-Response Workers— Prevention of Transmission of Human Immunodeficiency Virus and Hepatitis B Virus
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 89-108

How to Protect Yourself From Needlestick Injuries
DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 2000-135
En Español
Q & A about preventing needlestick injury and infection.

Personal Protective Equipment

Fact Sheet: What You Should Know In Deciding Whether to Buy Escape Hoods, Gas Masks, or Other Respirators for Preparedness at Home and Work
Provides information on what respirators are, how they work, and what is needed for a respirator to provide protection.

Approval of Self-Contained Breathing Respirators for Emergency Workers in Terrorist Attacks
Includes statement of standard, testing procedures, info for respirator manufacturers.

Interim Recommendations for the Selection and Use of Protective Clothing and Respirators Against Biological Agents

Suggested Repirator Cleaning and Sanitation Procedures
Includes list of supplies, sanitation guidance for single and multiple users.

A Guide for Evaluating the Performance of Chemical Protective Clothing
DHHS (NIOSH) Pub. No. 90-109
Outline of the selection process for CPC, including examples.

Eye Safety - Emergency Response & Disaster Recovery
En Español
Overview of eye hazards and injuries, types of eye protection, safety for prescription lens wearers, first aid.

(see the NIOSH Emergency Response Personal Protective Equipment page for further information)

Traumatic Incident Stress

Traumatic Incident Stress: Information For Emergency Response Workers
En Español
Desribes the dangers and symptoms of Traumatic Incident Stress, includes resources for coping.

Emergency Response Topics

Disaster Site Management