CBRNE Flashcards
Hot Zone
is the area where the contaminant concentration is deemed to be sufficient to cause death or injury to unprotected personnel or responders employing inappropriate PPE
Warm Zone
is the area where decontamination of personnel and equipment occurs. The Warm Zone is critical as it contains control points that prevent the movement of contaminated casualties and equipment into the Cold Zone. The Warm Zone is also a staging area for equipment required in support of Hot Zone activities. The main decontamination facility is located at the egress point of the Warm Zone.
Cold Zone
is a designated clean area with controlled access where the scene
command centre and other key administrative support areas are located.
What is a Blood Agent
chemical agents that interfere with the ability of blood to transport oxygen thus causing asphyxiation. These substances injure a person by interfering with cell respiration (the exchange of oxygen and carbon dioxide between blood and tissues). Common examples are hydrogen cyanide and cyanogen chloride.
Sarin and Tabun are examples of what type of agent?
Nerve Agents – (Organophosphates) The most toxic of the known chemical agents, nerve agents, are hazardous in both liquid and vapour states and can cause death within minutes of exposure.
What is a Blister Agent?
Blister agents constitute both a vapour and a liquid threat to exposed skin and mucous membranes. Vesicants cause blisters (vesicules) to form on the affected areas of the skin or, if inhaled, serious injury to the respiratory tract. Examples: Mustard (H, HD), Lewisite (L)
Phosgene and Chlorine are examples of what agent?
Choking Agents (Pulmonary Agents) - Choking agents are used regularly in industrial applications
SLUDGEM symptom of nerve agent exposure
The body tries to empty itself of all liquids when exposed to nerve agents. One way to remember the signs and symptoms of nerve agent exposure is to use the acronym “SLUDGEM”: S- Salivation, sweating; L- Lacrimation (tearing); U- Urination; D- Defecation; G- Gastric; E- Emesis; M- Miosis (pinpoint pupils). Pinpoint pupils are one of the most evident signs of nerve agent exposure.
Three classes of Biological Agents
Viral Agents, Toxins, Bacterial Agents
The major difference between exposure to chemical agents and to biological agents is:
Chemical agents can cause death within minutes of exposure whereas with biological agents it is often days or weeks
The most important thing to remember when transporting patients is
Ideally transport only decontaminated patients
Ionizing radiation
Can be naturally occurring or manufactured, Is undetectable by human senses, Can cause symptoms to appear anywhere from minutes to decades
What actions can you take to practice agent avoidance techniques?
Avoid contact and exposure to the contaminant. Do not touch exposed or potentially exposed people without wearing correct PPE. Evaluate risk at the scene and employ the correct equipment
You arrive on scene and get reports from those who have come out of the building that people are experiencing the following symptoms. What might they have been exposed to?
a. Nausea and vomiting: possibly almost any biological agent, a nerve agent or
very high radiation exposure
b. Sweating, shortness of breath, runny nose: could be almost any CBRN agent
c. Flu-like symptoms, some have gone into shock: almost any biological agent
d. Rash on feet and hands, fever, nausea: possibly smallpox
e. Stinging, burning eyes and skin: possibly blister or riot agent
f. Convulsions, loss of consciousness: possibly nerve or blood agent, or very
high radiation exposure
g. Slurred speech, dry mouth, blurred vision: possibly botulism
h. Cough, shortness of breath: could be almost any CBRN agent
