WestCoast EMT Chapter 41 Flashcards

Most terrorist attacks…

Require multiple terrorists working together.

Weapon of Mass Destruction/Casualty (WMD/WMC)

An weapon designed to bring about mass death, casualties, and or massive damage to properties/infrastructure.

B-NICE

Biologic, Nuclear, Incendiary, Chemical, Explosive

Scene Safety

The best location for staging is upwind and uphill from the incident.

Responder Safety

The best form of protection is preventing yourself from coming in contact with the agent (contamination or cross-contamination).

Notification Procedure

Notify dispatch of nature of event and additional resources needed. Establish staging area, trained responders in PPE are the only persons equipped to handle the WMD incident.

Vesicant

Primary route is the skin (contact). Vesicants cause burn like blisters to form on the victim’s skin and in the respiratory tract.

Signs of Vesicant Exposure:

Skin: Skin irritation, burning, and reddening.

Inhaled: Hoarseness and stridor

Types of Vesicants

Sulfur Mustard (delayed onset, persistent), Lewisite, Phosgene Oxime (both volatile and immediate).

Vesicant Treatment

Decontamination, ABCs, Burn Center

Pulmonary Agents

Gases that cause immediate harm to persons exposed to them. Damage the lung tissue and fluid leaks into the lungs. (Chlorine and phosgene [delayed onset]).

Pulmonary Agent Treatment

Remove Pt from environment, Treat ABC’s, Provided supplemental oxygen as needed.

Nerve Agents

Most deadly chemicals developed. Extremely toxic and rapidly fatal with any route of exposure. A class of chemical called organophosphates.

Types of Nerve Agents

Sarin (volatile), Soman (more persistent lethal), Tabun (persistent, not as lethal), V Agent (very persistent and very lethal).

V Agent

A clear, oily agent that has no odor and looks like baby oil. Easily absorbed into the skin and difficult to decontaminate.

Signs and Symptoms for Nerve Agents (DUMBELS)

Diarrhea, Urination, Miosis (pinpoint pupils), Bradycardia, Emesis (vomiting), Lacrimation (tearing), Seizures/Salvation/Sweating

Metabolic Agents

Hydrogen Cyanide, cyanogen chloride. Affect body’s ability to use oxygen.

Cyanide

A colorless gas with an odor similar to ALMONDS. Associated with dizziness, light-headedness, headache, and vomiting.

Biologic Agents

Grouped by viruses, bacteria, and neurotoxins.

Dissemination

The means by which a terrorist will spread the agent.

Disease Vector

An animal that spreads disease to another animal.

Smallpox

Wear gloves, a HEPA-filtered respirator, and eye protection. Before the rash and blisters show, the illness will start with a high fever and body aches and headaches. All the lesions are identical in their development. Smallpox blisters begin on the face and extremities and eventually move toward the chest and abdomen. Most contagious when blisters form.

Viral Hemorrhagic Fever (VHF)

Causes the blood in the body to seep out from the tissues and blood vessels. First, the patient will have severe abdominal muscle spasms, flulike symptoms, progressing to more serious symptoms such as internal and external hemorrhaging.

Bacteria- Anthrax

Lays dormant in a spore. Pulmonary anthrax is associated with a 90% death rate (The most Deadly Form) if untreated. Antibiotics can be used to treat anthrax successfully.

Neurotoxins

The most deadly substances known to humans. Route of entry is through ingestion, inhalation from aerosols, or injection. Not a contagious biological agent. Botulinum and Ricin.

Botulinum Toxin

The most potent neurotoxin, affects nervous system function (muscle control).

Ricin

Symptoms of both inhaled and ingested ricin include fever and headaches. Causes pulmonary edema.

Radiologic/Nuclear Devices

Ionizing radiation strength: alpha, beta, gamma (x-ray), or neutron radiation. Patients exposed to excessive radiation are victims of acute radiation toxicity.

Best ways to protect yourself from the effects of radiation:

Time, Distance, and Shielding

Types of Blast Injuries

Primary blast injury- direct effects of the pressure wave on the body. This injury is seen almost exclusively in the hollow organs of the body.

Secondary blast injury- penetrating or nonpenetrating injury that results from flying debris (like a grenade).

Tertiary Blast Injury- whole body displacement and subsequent impact with environmental objects.

Any other blast injury would be quaternary/miscellaneous (blindness, etc.).

Most common causes of death blast injury:

Number one is blast lung (primary blast injury). Neurologic injuries and head trauma are also common causes of fatality from blast injury.