CBRN and Hazardous Materials Incident Response

Flashcards covering chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) response protocols, personal protective equipment (PRPS, SC1, NxGen, FM53), detection devices, de-escalation/decontamination sequences, and clinical triage tools.

CBRN

The malicious or deliberate release of Chemical, Biological, Radiological, or Nuclear materials intended to cause harm.

HAZMAT

The accidental release of hazardous materials without malicious or deliberate intent.

Toxidrome

A specific pattern of signs and symptoms caused by a toxic substance in the body, often referred to as a "chemical fingerprint".

CRESS Tool

A rapid assessment framework evaluating five vital indicators: Consciousness, Respiration, Eyes, Secretions, and Skin.

STEL (Short Term Exposure Limit)

An occupational limit calculated as $15\,\text{minutes}$ of safe exposure duration.

LTEL (Long Term Exposure Limit)

An occupational limit calculated as a Time Weighted Average ($\text{TWA}$) equating to an $8\,\text{hour}$ safe exposure duration.

Initial Operational Response (IOR)

The immediate frontline response prioritizing moving away, disrobing, and dry decontamination to reduce exposure quickly.

Specialist Operational Response (SOR)

A response phase conducted by specialist teams focusing on detection, monitoring, wet decontamination, and medical treatment to achieve control and recovery.

"Remove, Remove, Remove" Protocol

A casualty safety procedure instructing people to: 1) Remove themselves from the immediate area to fresh air; 2) Remove outer clothing without pulling it over the head; and 3) Remove the substance from skin using dry absorbent material, followed by continual rinsing if skin is itchy or painful.

BADCOLDS Mnemonic

An observation checklist used to safely assess a suspected hazardous substance from a distance: Behaviour, Appearance, Dissemination, Colour, Odour, Likeness, Deliberate, and Symptoms.

High Consequence Infectious Disease (HCID)

An acute infectious disease with a high fatality rate, lacking effective prophylaxis or treatment, difficult to recognize and detect, capable of spreading in healthcare and community settings, and requiring a multifaceted response (classified in Hazard Groups 3 and 4).

Contact HCIDs (Category 4)

High consequence infectious diseases spread by direct contact with infected fluids, tissues, materials, or fomites, predominantly comprising Viral Haemorrhagic Fevers (VHFs) such as Ebola, Marburg, Lassa fever, and CCHF.

Airborne HCIDs (Category 3)

High consequence infectious diseases spread through respiratory droplets or aerosol transmission, such as MERS, SARS, Avian Influenza A, Nipah virus, and Pneumonic Plague.

Biological Toxins

Non-living poisonous chemical substances derived from micro-organisms, plants, animals, or produced synthetically, such as Botulinum toxin and Ricin.

Live Biological Agents

Infectious living organisms divided into bacterial, viral, and fungal agents that reproduce within a host (e.g., Anthrax, Plague, Smallpox, Coccidioidomycosis).

Alpha Particles ($\alpha$)

Ionising radiation with low penetrating power that travels only a few centimetres in air and is easily stopped by paper, skin, or clothing.

Beta Particles ($\beta$)

Ionising radiation that travels centimetres to metres in air and requires shielding by a few millimetres of aluminium, Perspex, or plastic.

Gamma Rays ($\gamma$)

High-energy electromagnetic radiation capable of travelling metres to kilometres in air, requiring thick lead or thick concrete shielding for reduction.

Inverse Square Law (Radiation)

The principle stating that radiation dose decreases inversely with the square of distance from a point source: doubling the distance quarters the dose ($1\,\text{m} \rightarrow 2\,\text{m} = 100\% \rightarrow 25\%$), while halving the distance quadruples the dose ($1\,\text{m} \rightarrow 0.5\,\text{m} = 100\% \rightarrow 400\%$).

Sievert ($\text{Sv}$) Sub-units

Radiation dose measurement units where each step down decreases by a factor of $1{,}000$: $1\,\text{Sv} = 1{,}000\,\text{mSv} = 1{,}000{,}000\,\mu\text{Sv} = 1{,}000{,}000{,}000\,\text{nSv}$.

ALARP

The radiation safety principle standing for "As Low As Reasonably Practicable".

RAMGENE Mk II

A radiation detector offering Dose Rate Mode (cap on; measures Beta and Gamma in $\mu\text{Sv/h}$) and Contamination Mode (cap off; measures Alpha, Beta, and Gamma in Counts Per Second [CPS]).

Electronic Personal Dosimeter (EPD) Alarms

A radiation monitoring dosimeter with three primary alarm tiers: First Alarm at $100\,\mu\text{Sv/h}$ (dose rate; intermittent double fast chirp), Second Alarm at $5\,\text{mSv}$ (accumulated dose; slow two-tone), and Third Alarm at $100\,\text{mSv}$ (accumulated dose; continuous tone).

Dose Reference Levels (DRLs)

The maximum anticipated radiation dose per event: DRL 1 is $1\,\text{mSv/event}$ for All Responders; DRL 2 is $5\,\text{mSv/event}$ for SORT and HART; and DRL 3 is $100\,\text{mSv/event}$ authorized for HART only.

DuoDote Auto-Injector

An emergency auto-injector delivering $2.1\,\text{mg}$ atropine injection and $600\,\text{mg}$ pralidoxime chloride injection via intramuscular administration into the outer thigh for nerve agent poisoning.

Blot, Bang, Rub (DKP1)

An immediate modified decontamination method using Fullers Earth powder on gloves, respirator, boots, and suit folds to physically remove liquid chemical agents.

FM53 Respirator Functions (PC-BOD)

The five core operational capabilities of the FM53 mask: Protection, Communication, Breathing, Optical, and Drinking (via a connected $3\,\text{L}$ CamelBak).

CBRNCF50 Canister

A respiratory canister protecting against Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TICs), riot control agents, and chemical warfare agents, featuring a shelf life of $5.5\,\text{years}$.

SC1 Protection Suit

A single-use splash protection suit that requires a minimum of $5\,\text{minutes}$ misting decontamination with copious water, detergent, and neutralizer, followed by a $30\,\text{minute}$ Safe Undressing Procedure ($\text{SUP}$).

NxGen Ensemble

A chemical and particulate protective suit available in Paris blue (Operational) and Slate grey (Training), featuring a $90\,\text{minute}$ working duration, a $30\,\text{minute}$ Safe Undressing Procedure ($\text{SUP}$, total $2\,\text{hours}$), and a $10\,\text{year}$ unopened shelf life.

Powered Respirator Protective Suit (PRPS) Gen 2

A positive-pressure protective suit constructed from Tychem TK (Operational: lime green/yellow) or PVC (Training: dark green), providing an airflow of $170\,\text{litres/min}$, an Air Filtration Unit battery duration of $3.5\text{--}4\,\text{hrs}$, and a total wear time of $75\,\text{mins}$ ($60\,\text{mins}$ work + $15\,\text{mins}$ decon).

PRPS Decon Sequence

A structured $12\,\text{minute}$ decontamination procedure composed of: $3\,\text{minutes}$ self-decon, $6\,\text{minutes}$ buddy mutual decon, and $3\,\text{minutes}$ final self-decon; each phase consists of $1\,\text{minute}$ rinse, $1\,\text{minute}$ wipe, and $1\,\text{minute}$ rinse.

PRPS Head Up Display (HUD)

An in-suit alert device displaying operational status: solid green for normal operation; green solid with amber flashing at $60\,\text{mins}$ use; solid green with amber solid at $75\,\text{mins}$ use; red flashing with intermittent beep for low battery/low flow; and no lights with a misted visor signalling total Air Filtration Unit (AFU) failure.

JESIP Joint Principles

Five interoperability principles governing emergency multi-agency response: Co-locate, Communicate, Co-ordinate, Jointly Understand Risk, and Shared Situational Awareness (utilizing M/ETHANE and the Joint Decision Model).