Transcript Haz Mat and WMD - Will/Grundy Emergency Medical Services

Haz Mat and WMD
Silver Cross EMSS
November 2013
EMD CE
Introduction
 You should be able to identify the clues of a hazardous
materials incident.
 It is important for you to understand:
 The resources available in your area
 Where to find additional information about Hazardous
Materials & WMD
 The framework of the National Incident Management System
(NIMS)
 How to coordinate communications for these events
Hazardous Materials Incidents
 HazMat are substances that are toxic, poisonous,
radioactive, flammable, or explosive and can cause injury or
death with exposure.
 During a HazMat incident, your top priorities are to protect
responders and bystanders from exposure and coordinate
appropriate resource allocation to the scene.
 Do you know where to find information about all the
resources available in your area for these types of incidents?
 Where is the Emergency Response Guide located at your
center?
HazMat Incidents
 Identify the substances involved.
 Federal law requires that all vehicles containing certain
quantities of hazardous materials display a HazMat placard.
 The placard should include a four-digit identification number.
 The color, picture and classification number on placards can
also help with identification of substances.
 Bill of Ladings, Shipping Papers or MSDS sheets will also
provide information about materials.
HazMat Incidents
Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Transportation
HazMat Incidents
 Emergency Response Guidebook lists:
 Types of containers and methods of
Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Transportation
transport
 Most common hazardous materials
 Their four-digit identification
numbers, classification numbers and
color coding for placards
 Proper emergency actions to control
the scene
 Emergency care of patients who
become ill or injured after exposure
 Additional resources available
HazMat Incidents
 Notify the responders of the suspected presence of HazMat.
 Relay information about victims who have sustained an
acute injury as a result of exposure.
 Victims will have to be removed from the contaminated area
and be decontaminated before treatment can be given.
 Give necessary instructions and update responders.
 Very few specific antidotes or treatments exist for most
HazMat injuries.
 Emergency treatment usually consists of supportive care for
signs and symptoms.
Radio Report from the Scene
 The key points in the size up from the scene are:
 Location of the incident
 Type of incident
 Any hazards
 Approximate number of patients
 Type of assistance required
 Perimeters for emergency vehicles and route for emergency
traffic to approach the scene.
National Incident Management System
 Developed by the US Department of Homeland Security
 Provides a consistent and unified approach to handling
emergency incidents
 Used to handle the immediate response, mitigation, and
long-term recovery of small and massive natural and
human-made incidents
 Three major components of Command and Management:
 The Incident Command System (ICS)
 Multiagency Coordination Systems
 Public Information Systems
National Incident Management System
 Six major areas are addressed within the scope of NIMS.
 Command and Management
 Preparedness
 Resource Management
 Communications and Information Management
 Support Technologies
 Ongoing Management and Maintenance
Terrorism Awareness & WMD
 Terrorism is the systematic use of violence by a group to
intimidate a population or government to achieve a goal.
 Terrorist acts may be instigated by a country’s citizens or by
people from other countries.
 Methods used to incite terror
 Explosives
 Fire
 Chemicals
 Viruses
 Bacteria
 Radiation
Weapons of Mass Destruction
 Any agent designed to bring about mass death, casualties,
and/or massive damage to property and infrastructure
 Include explosive, chemical, biologic, and nuclear weapons
 The preferred WMD to date has been explosive devices.
Potential Targets and Risks
 Potential terrorist targets
 Bridges, tunnels, pipelines, and harbors
 National monuments
 Housing developments, public transportation and automobile dealerships
 Computer networks and data systems
 Farms and agricultural locations
 Schools, government buildings, churches, and shopping centers
 Convention or Sports facilities
 Medical facilities
 Events held on historic dates
WHAT TYPES OF TARGETS DO YOU HAVE IN YOUR SERVICE AREA?
DO YOU HAVE A PRE-PLAN FOR THESE TYPES OF INCIDENTS?
© Susan Tansil/ShutterStock, Inc.
Potential Targets and Risks
Potential Targets and Risks
 EMDs should always be
alert for clues about
hazards.
 Although you should be
prepared for terrorist
events, most of your
emergency calls will not
be for these events.
FBI.gov
Types of WMD
B – NICE
 B – BIOLOGIC
 N – NUCLEAR
 I – INCENDIARY
 C – CHEMICAL
 E - EXPLOSIVES
Types of WMD
 Explosives and incendiary
devices
 Explosives produce a concussion
that destroys property and inflicts
injury and death.
 Incendiary devices are designed to
start fires.
 The first indication that such a
device is present is the explosion
or fire from its deployment.
 Be alert for the possibility of a
second explosive device.
Types of WMD
 Chemical agents
 Pulmonary agents
 Gases that cause immediate distress and injury
 Cause intense coughing, gasping, shortness of breath, and
difficulty breathing
 Common agents: Chlorine and Phosgene
 Metabolic agents
 Affect the body’s ability to use oxygen at the cellular level
 Most common metabolic agents: cyanides
Types of WMD
 Chemical agents
 Insecticides or Nerve Agents
 Class of poisonous
chemicals that are inhaled
or absorbed through the
skin
 Absorption produces
SLUDGE-like symptoms.
 Causes an overproduction
of body fluids, slow heart
rate, muscle twitching and
constricted pupils.
S – Salivation, Sweating
L – Lacrimation
(tearing)
U – Urination
D – Defecation,
diarrhea
G – Gastric Upset
E – Emesis (vomiting)
Types of WMD
 Chemical agents
 Nerve agents
 Among the most deadly chemicals developed
 Cause SLUDGE-like symptoms
 Sarin, Soman, Tabun, and V agent (VX)
 Blister agents
 Produce burn-like blisters, pain, skin irritation, severe
shortness of breath, and severe coughing
 Include sulfur mustard and Lewisite
Types of WMD
 Safety considerations when dealing with chemical agents
 Anytime multiple people experience unexplained symptoms,
suspect a common agent as the cause.
 Your primary role is to recognize that a problem exists and
notify responders of conditions at scene.
 You will coordinate additional resources needed for this type
of event and make notifications to the proper agencies.
Types of WMD
 Biologic agents
 Naturally occurring substances that produce diseases
 Incubation period: the time from exposure to the time the person
shows symptoms of the disease
 The first awareness of a biologic incident would likely come from
hospital emergency departments.
 Safety considerations when dealing with biologic agents
 Be alert for unusual patterns of diseases with flulike symptoms.
 Call for specially trained assistance.
 Patients need to be decontaminated before treatment and transport.
Types of WMD
 Radiologic agents
 Ionizing radiation is a kind of energy that is formed by the
decay of a naturally occurring or human-made radioactive
source.
Signs & Symptoms of Radiation Illness
Low – Nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
Moderate – Superficial burns, hair loss, depletion of
the immune system, cancer
Severe – Partial and full – thickness burns, cancer,
death
Types of WMD
 Radiologic agents
 Radiation cannot be seen, felt, or
detected without special instruments.
 A dirty bomb is an explosive device
containing a small amount of
radioactive material.
 Specially trained teams need to check
for radiation.
 If victims have radioactive material
on them they need decontamination
before treatment and transport.
Response to Terrorist Events
 In all emergencies, the same
general guidelines apply:
 Good scene safety, be aware
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of changes on scene and
possible secondary devices
Get appropriate resources to
help with event
Know your role in working
within the ICS.
Treat these incidents as masscasualty situations.
Establish good working
relationships with local, state,
and federal agencies.
Sources
 AAOS Emergency Medical Responder,
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Your First Response in Emergency Care, 5th Edition
DOT Emergency Response Guide
WMD Emergency Response Guide
FEMA
CDC
Google Images