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Chempack Overview
The CHEMPACK program began as an initiative of CDC’s Division of Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) in 1983 before oversight and operational control of the SNS and CHEMPACK moved to the Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR) in early 2018. It provides antidotes (three countermeasures used concomitantly) to nerve agents for pre-positioning by State, local, and/or tribal officials throughout the U.S. CHEMPACK Program is envisioned as a comprehensive capability for the effective use of medical countermeasures in the event of an attack on civilians with nerve agents. The Enterprise CHEMPACK program would build upon the existing system, improving it by adding an education, training, and exercise component and by optimizing the pre-positioning of antidotes.
behind the scenes
maintenance and Sustainment
We work hard locally with our CDC partners to ensure the cache site is maintained and shelf life of container contents are rotated prior to product expiration.
Chempack
Mission
- Provide, monitor and maintain a nationwide program for the forward placement of nerve agent antidotes.
- To provide state and local governments a sustainable resource; and improve their capability to respond quickly to a nerve agent incident.
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did you know…
Why is the Chempack so important?
- Faster response times during an emergency
- Save in overall costs for state and hospitals
- Local control of assets
- Process refined based on nationwide lessons learned
Response time
For the Strategic National Stockpile is 12 hours. That is too long in the event of a chemical attack
Local Stockpile
Outside of the CHEMPACK, State and Local government have limited or no chemical/nerve agent antidote stocks
Hospital Stockpile
Limited at best
Cost
Nerve agent antidotes are costly and are not an easily sustainable resource due to variable shelf life
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What have we done In our region?
The State of Tennessee and the Knox/East Coalition have developed strategies for acquiring, deploying, and using the Chempack. Check with your RHC for more information and make sure you know the process for activation.