Table 4

Effect of 550 Kt detonation on health care in four cities*

Affects of 550 Kt Detonation within 0.1% mortality contour and 1psi

Washington

New York

Chicago

Atlanta

Hospital Beds in Affected Area (in thousands)

9.9

24.5

12.1

4.5

Total Beds within 20/40 miles of incident edge (in thousands)

7.3/13.1

24.0/33.6

9.8/17.3

4.4/10.3

%Beds lost within 20/40 miles of incident edge

57/43

51/42

55/41

50/43

Number of Hospitals in Affected Areas

30

54

42

14

Additional Hospitals within 20/40 miles outside affected area

33/61

77/107

45/72

23/40

% Hospitals lost to incident

48/33

41/34

48/37

38/26

Number of Health Staff Affected by incident (in thousands)

67.1

145.3

75.1

28.8

Additional Health Staff within 20/40 miles (in thousands)

41.7/81.0

127.4/178.2

58.0/99. 8

25.8/35.2

% Health Staff Lost

62/45

53/45

56/43

53/45

• Effect contour was considered to be 0.1% mortality for radiation or 1 pound per square inch for blast, which would break windows and also subject staff to some burn effects when exposed to thermal radiation.

Bell and Dallas International Journal of Health Geographics 2007 6:5   doi:10.1186/1476-072X-6-5