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Vol. 1 No. 2 (2024)

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Submitted
November 11, 2026
Published
December 31, 2024

Copyright (c) 2024 Hashel Ali Saleh Al Abdullah, Maryam Hejji Bumozah, Abdullah Ali Alawadh, Mohammed Badr Fahad Al-Saeed, Ghazi Yahya Mohammed Kariri, Majed Hussein Ahmed Alallah, Abdulrahman Mohammed Mofareh Ghazwani, Yousef Abdullah Saad Aldhorani, Abdullatif Hassan Alfaifi, Faiz Ali AhmedKaabi

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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

Health Security and Radiological Preparedness in EMT-Led Responses to CBRN or Hybrid Threats: A Review of Training, Protective Protocols, Nutritional Support for Contaminated Patients, and Imaging Challenges in Contaminated Environments

https://doi.org/10.64483/202412828
Hashel Ali Saleh Al Abdullah
Al-Hudn Health Center, Najran – Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Maryam Hejji Bumozah
Maternity and Children’s Hospital, Al-Kharj – Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Abdullah Ali Alawadh
Maternity and Children’s Hospital, Al-Kharj – Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Mohammed Badr Fahad Al-Saeed
Riyadh First Health Cluster – Long-Term Care Hospital, Riyadh, Ministry of health, Saudi Arabia
Ghazi Yahya Mohammed Kariri
Jazan - Al-Harth General Hospital, Ministry of Health - Jazan Health Cluster, Saudi Arabia
Majed Hussein Ahmed Alallah
King Abdulaziz Hospital and Oncology Center, Jeddah – Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Abdulrahman Mohammed Mofareh Ghazwani
Riyadh – King Saud Medical City, Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Yousef Abdullah Saad Aldhorani
Jazan Region Branch of the Ministry of Health – Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Abdullatif Hassan Alfaifi
Erada and Mental Health Hospital, Jazan – Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia
Faiz Ali AhmedKaabi
Erada and Mental Health Hospital, Jazan – Ministry of Health, Saudi Arabia

Corresponding Author(s) : Hashel Ali Saleh Al Abdullah

hashelali@gmail.com

Saudi Journal of Medicine and Public Health, Vol. 1 No. 2 (2024)

Abstract

Background: Emergency medical teams (EMTs) are often the first clinicians to reach chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) incidents, including hybrid threats that combine physical, cyber, and informational attacks. Evidence on their readiness is fragmented across disciplines. Aim: To synthesize recent literature on EMT training, protective protocols, nutritional support for contaminated patients, and imaging in contaminated environments. Methods: A narrative review of peer-reviewed articles, clinical guidelines, and institutional reports published between 2017 and 2024 was conducted, followed by thematic synthesis. Results: Training is heterogeneous and seldom assessed for competence. Protective protocols depend on hazard-specific zoning, decontamination, and dosimetry. Nutritional care is under-addressed and relies on extrapolated critical-care and oncology guidance. Imaging is constrained by equipment contamination, dose considerations, and workflow limits. Conclusion: Integrated, competency-based preparedness that embeds nutrition and imaging within contamination-control pathways is needed.

Keywords

health security; radiological preparedness; emergency medical teams; CBRN; hybrid threats
Al Abdullah, H. A. S., Bumozah, M. H., Alawadh, A. A., Al-Saeed, M. B. F., Kariri, G. Y. M., Alallah, M. H. A., … Faiz Ali AhmedKaabi. (2024). Health Security and Radiological Preparedness in EMT-Led Responses to CBRN or Hybrid Threats: A Review of Training, Protective Protocols, Nutritional Support for Contaminated Patients, and Imaging Challenges in Contaminated Environments. Saudi Journal of Medicine and Public Health, 1(2), 2638–2647. https://doi.org/10.64483/202412828
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