Terror training required of health professions

A bio-terror attack places a tremendous demand on medical professionals.

They need to sort out the signs of bio-terrorism, distinguishing the work of a terrorist from the work of a naturally occurring illness, and move quickly to limit the spread of the attack.

The first step: heightened awareness that bio-terrorism is among the possible diagnoses.

And development of that awareness is the goal of courses scheduled monthly by Truckee Meadows Community College.

The training is required by a state law approved by the Legislature in

2003.

The law requires the training for physicians, registered nurses, emergency medical technicians, dentists and other licensed health-care professionals.

Scott Alquist, who coordinates classes through the TMCC Safety Center, said last week the college isn't certain how many professionals will be drawn to the course each month, but he noted that thousands of licensed medical professionals work in the region.

"The word is just getting out that we're offering this," Alquist said.

Similar classes are offered by Washoe Medical Center, Northern Nevada Medical Center, Saint Mary's and other health-care organizations.

The four-hour course, delivered during a single morning at TMCC's Applied Technology Center in Reno, is scheduled this winter on Jan.

19, Feb.

14 and March 18.

The cost: $35 a person, with discounts for companies that send three or more.

During those four hours, instructor John Engdahl, a registered nurse at the Veterans Administration hospital in Reno, covers subjects ranging from world terrorism threats and potential types of weapons of mass destruction to treatments that are available.

While the course is required for medical professionals, TMCC officials also seek to enroll firefighters and police officers.

"First responders and health professionals have first-line access and are the first to see the tell-tale signs for an exposure," Engdahl says."Their ability to recognize and report a potential outbreak is critical." (For registration information, go to wdce.tmcc.edu or call 829-9010.)