The army will supply the emergency services with an antidote against poison gas poisoning. The authorities want to be ready to react in case of attacks during COP21.
The murderous attacks perpetrated in Paris this Friday, and the upcoming holding of the major climate conference (COP21) at the end of the month, have pushed the authorities to use great means. These fear new attacks and do not exclude the possibility of attacks with toxic gases. A decree was therefore published in the Official Journal of November 15 to provide an antidote for emergency medical services.
It is atropine sulfate, a drug that comes in the form of a 40mg / 20mL PCA solution and which acts specifically against acute poisoning with organo-phosphorus insecticides but also with war neurotoxicants derived from it. (Sarin, Tabun, Soman or Vx gas).
Deadlines too short before COP21
The National Agency for Medicines and Health Products Safety (ANSM) has authorized the production and marketing of atropine sulfate. Problem: COP21 starts on November 30, and the deadlines are therefore too short to allow the pharmaceutical industry to make the antidote available to health services. However, no other drug is currently suitable for emergency treatment.
The French Army has a stock of the antidote, produced by the central pharmacy of the armed forces. The decree therefore specifies that on an exceptional basis, the military health service will supply theHealth emergency preparedness and response establishment in atropine sulfate.
It is through this organization that atropine sulfate will then be made available to urgent medical aid services. For its part, the military health service will be responsible for ensuring its traceability, and recording the undesirable effects potentially observed by doctors. The probability of having recourse to it is undoubtedly low, but the decree makes it possible to organize a rapid and effective response to face the worst situation.
.
