NCJ Number
194409
Date Published
1992
Length
26 pages
Annotation
These guidelines have been developed to provide a clear statement that could be used by State and local emergency response personnel to screen a mixed population group exposed in the event of a nerve or vesicant agent incident that results in off-post (military) contamination.
Abstract
The goal of the guidelines is to provide maximum protection from harm. The assumption is that any population group so exposed would be heterogeneous for age, gender, reproductive status, and state of health. In all cases, emergency response and medical personnel should wear protective clothing and take special precautions to avoid self-contamination, cross-contamination, or contamination of medical equipment and transport vehicles. Undiluted household bleach is well-suited for immediate decontamination of gloves or small equipment items that possess smooth surfaces. Individuals who exhibit any signs/symptoms should be immediately segregated, treated according to observed severity of toxic response, stripped, and decontaminated to reduce further exposure via potentially contaminated skin, hair, or clothing. All individuals potentially exposed to liquid agents in the form of splash, direct, droplet/aerosol deposition, or skin contact with potentially contaminated surfaces should undergo decontamination and change into fresh, clean clothing. Guidelines are provided for special precautions in the case of a sulfur mustard exposure. Guidelines are also provided for the collection and management of blood and urine samples. Tables present antidote treatment guidelines for nerve and vesicant agent exposure and general decontamination guidelines for nerve and vesicant agents. 11 references and a glossary