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Medical Preparation for Terrorism in Australia. Is Luck Running Out for “The Lucky Country?”

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  28 June 2012

David G.E. Caldicott  and
Nicholas A. Edwards
David G.E. Caldicott*
Affiliation:
Registrar, Emergency Medicine, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
Nicholas A. Edwards
Affiliation:
Staff Specialist, Intensive Care Medicine, Royal Adelaide Hospital, Adelaide, Australia
*
Emergency Department, Royal Adelaide Hospital, North Terrace, Adelaide SA 5000, Australia, E-mail: dcaldico@mail.rah.sa.gov.au
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Abstract

Recent world events have forced Australia to re-examine its role on the world stage and its susceptibility to terrorist attacks. The authors examine the brief historical exposure of Australia to the phenomenon of terrorism, and review the geopolitical climate and features that may render it more susceptible to attack in the future. Australia's emergency management structure is outlined, and its current state of medical preparedness for a terrorist incident is critically reviewed.

Keywords

AustraliadisasterpreparednessresponseSouth East Asiaterrorismthreatweapons of mass destruction
Type
Special Reports
Information
Prehospital and Disaster Medicine , Volume 18 , Special Issue 2: Terrorism-I: Country Reports , June 2003 , pp. 57 - 65
Copyright
Copyright © World Association for Disaster and Emergency Medicine 2003

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