(A349) The Role of Poison Centers in the 2010 Gulf Oil Spill Response

Abstract

Background: An explosion occurred on the drilling rig Deepwater Horizon on April 20, 2010. The release of oil that occurred in the months after the rig sank is among the largest in history, with some estimates exceeding 200 million gallons before the well was finally capped on July 15, 2010. An oil slick was noted at the site of the accident on April 22, touching off massive response efforts involving tens of thousands of individuals. Discussion(s): Poison Control Centers were asked to participate in the early stages of the response by the U.S. Coast Guard, the agency in charge of the Unified Command. Callers with medical issues or medical questions about the spill were directed to call the Poison Center hotline number for assistance. As the response grew the Poison Centers role expanded. Poison Centers provided case information from the National Poison Data System (NPDS) to health departments in all states bordering the Gulf of Mexico. In some gulf states the Poison Center was the single initial reporting point for medical support issues. Frequent situation reports were provided to various agencies and individuals with key roles in the response. These sitreps described the activities of the Poison Centers and provided up to date information about the numbers and types of cases reported. Poison Centers were asked to participate in multistate planning sessions for spill related health issues. Center staff members were asked to sit on committees and taskforces formulating response plans for issues including food and water safety as well as air quality issues. Initially the majority of cases reported involved inhalation exposure, but as the oil moved onto the shore dermal and ingestion exposure routes were noted as well. Poison Center staff assisted in over one thousand exposure calls as a result of the spill and the cleanup efforts. By June websites including deepwaterhorizonresponse. com, restorethegulf.gov, CDC.gov, EPA.gov, BP.com, and state health department sites all listed the national poison help hotline, 1-800-222-1222, as the primary number to call for those individuals in need of medical support or for those who had medical information questions. Poison Centers continue to assist in the response and will do so as long as necessary. Result(s): The gulf oil spill marked the most significant involvement in a large scale emergency response in Poison Centers history. New partnerships were formed that will certainly lead to greater Poison Center utilization in future emergency preparedness plans and responses.