NCJ Number
190873
Date Published
1998
Length
200 pages
Annotation
This book provides general information for first responders that can be applied to most chemical or biological attacks.
Abstract
The most important actions for a first responder when confronting a weapons of mass destruction (WMD) chemical/biological incident are the initial scene assessment and gaining control of the situation as it evolves. Some indicators that identify whether a chemical attack has occurred are dead animals, lack of insect life, blisters/rash, mass casualties, illness, unusual liquid, unexplained odors, or low-lying clouds. Some biological indicators are unusual amounts of sick or dead people and animals within an area, abandoned spray devices, or patterns of casualties. The following features govern biological agents: infectivity, virulence, toxicity, pathogenicity, incubation period, transmissibility, lethality, and stability. Types of biological agents are bacteria, viruses, rickettsiae, chlamydia, fungi, and toxins. Antibiotics must be given to all biological weapon casualties. The five categories of chemical agents are nerve, blister, choking, blood, and vomiting. The descriptive elements, physical state, and ability to remain in environment are provided for the following chemical agents: VX, sarin, tabun, soman, distilled mustard, nitrogen mustard, sulfur mustard, phosgene oxime, lewisite, phenyldichloroarsine, ethyldichloroarsine, phosgene, chlorine, hydrogen cyanide, cyanogen chloride, arsine, and adamsite. Decontamination is the process of reducing and preventing the spread of contamination from persons and equipment at a chemical/biological event through the use of physical or chemical means. Considerations for decontamination are wind direction, decon site security, control of decon site, decon site logistics, and hotline. The two basic methods of decontamination are the physical removal and chemical removal (deactivation) of agents. References