combined 1-7 mods

bills of lading

The shipping papers used for transport of chemicals over roads and highways. Also referred to as freight bills.

bulk storage containers

Any container other than nonbulky storage containers such as fixed tanks, highway cargo tanks, rail tank cars, totes, and intermodal tanks. These are typically found in manufacturing facilities and are often surrounded by a secondary containment system to help control an accidental release.

carboys

Glass, plastic, or steel containers, ranging in volume from 5 to 15 gallons (19 to 57L).

casualty collection area

An area set up by physicians, nurses, and other hospital staff near a major disaster scene where patients can receive further triage and medical care.

Chemical Transportation Emergency Center (CHEMTREC)

an agency that assists emergency responders in identifying and handling hazardous materials transport incidents

closed incident

An incident that is contained; all casualties are accounted for.

cold zone

A safe area at a hazardous materials incident for the agencies involved in the operations. The incident commander, the command post, EMS providers, and other support functions necessary to control the incident should be located in the cold zone. Also referred to as the clean zone or the support zone.

command

In incident command, the position that oversees the incident, establishes the objectives and priorities, and from there develops a response plan.

command post

The designated field command center where the incident commander and support staff are located.

container

Any vessel or receptacle that holds material, including storage vessels, pipelines, and packaging.

control zones

Areas at a hazardous materials incident that are designated as hot, warm, or cold, based on safety issues and the degree of hazard found there.

cylinders

Portable, compressed gas containers used to hold liquids and gases such as nitrogen, argon, helium, and oxygen. They have a range of sizes and internal pressures.

decontamination

The process of removing or neutralizing and properly disposing of hazardous materials from equipment, patients, and responders.

decontamination area

The designated area in a hazardous materials incident where all patients and rescuers must be decontaminated before going to another area.

demobilization

The process of directing responders to return to their facilities when work at a disaster or mass-casualty incident has finished, at least for those particular responders.

disaster

A widespread event that disrupts community resources and functions, in turn threatening public safety, citizens' lives, and property.

drums

Barrel-like containers used to store a wide variety of substances, including food-grade materials, corrosives, flammable liquids, and grease. Drums may be constructed of low-carbon steel, polyethylene, cardboard, stainless steel, nickel, or other materials.

Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)

A preliminary action guide for first responders operating at a hazardous materials incident in coordination with the US Department of Transportation's labels and placards marking system. Jointly developed by the DOT, the Secretariat of Communications and Transportation of Mexico, and Transport Canada.

extrication supervisor

In incident command, the person appointed to determine the type of equipment and resources needed for a situation involving extrication or special rescue; also called the rescue officer.

finance/administration

In incident command, the position in an incident responsible for accounting of all expenditures.

freelancing

When individual units or different organizations make independent and often inefficient decisions about the next appropriate action.

freight bills

The shipping papers used for transport of chemicals along roads and highways. Also referred to as bills of lading.

hazardous material

Any substance that is toxic, poisonous, radioactive, flammable, or explosive and causes injury or death with exposure.

hazardous materials (hazmat) incident

An incident in which a hazardous material is no longer properly contained and isolated.

hot zone

The area immediately surrounding a hazardous materials spill or incident site that endangers life and health. All responders working in the hot zone must wear complete, appropriate protective clothing and equipment. Entry requires approval by the incident commander or other designated officer.

incident action plan

An oral or written plan stating general objectives reflecting the overall strategy for managing an incident.

incident commander (IC)

The overall leader of the incident command system to whom commanders or leaders of incident command system divisions report.

incident command system (ICS)

A system implemented to manage disasters and mass-casualty incidents in which section chiefs, including finance, logistics, operations, and planning, report to the incident commander.

intermodal tanks

Shipping and storage vessels that can be either pressurized or nonpressurized.

joint information center (JIC)

An area designated by the incident commander, or a designee, in which public information officers from multiple agencies distribute information about the incident.

JumpSTART triage

A sorting system for pediatric patients younger than 8 years or weighing less than 100 lbs. There is a minor adaptation for infants since they cannot ambulate on their own.

liason officer

In incident command, the person who relays information, concerns, and requests among responding agencies.

logistics

In incident command, the position that helps procure and stockpile equipment and supplies during an incident.

mass- casualty incident (MCI)

An emergency situation involving three or more patients or that can place great demand on the equipment or personnel of the EMS system or has the potential to produce multiple casualties.

material safety data sheet (MSDS)

A form, provided by manufacturers and compounders (blenders) of chemicals, containing information about chemical composition, physical and chemical properties, health and safety hazards, emergency response, and waste disposal of a specific material; also known as a safety data sheet (SDS).

morgue supervisor

In incident command, the person who works with area medical examiners, coroners, and law enforcement agencies to coordinate the disposition of dead victims.

mutual aid response

An agreement between neighboring EMS systems to respond to mass-casualty incidents or disasters in each other's region when local resources are insufficient to handle the response.

National Incident Management System (NIMS)

A Department of Homeland Security system designed to enable federal, state, and local governments and private-sector and nongovernmental organizations to effectively and efficiently prepare for, prevent, respond to, and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size, or complexity, including acts of catastrophic terrorism.

nonbulk storage vessels

Any container other than bulk storage containers such as drums, bags, compressed gas cylinders, and cryogenic containers. this term holds commonly used commercial and industrial chemicals such as solvents, industrial cleaners, and compounds.

open incident

An incident that is not yet contained; there may be patients to be located and the situation may be ongoing, producing more patients.

operations

In incident command, the position that carries out the orders of the commander to help resolve the incident.

personal protective equipment (PPE) levels

Indicates the amount and type of protective equipment that an individual needs to avoid injury during contact with a hazardous material.

placards

Signage required to be placed on all four sides of highway transport vehicles, railroad tank cars, and other forms of hazardous materials transportation; the sign identifies the hazardous contents of the vehicle, using a standardization system with diamond-shaped indicators.

planning

In incident command, the position that ultimately produces a plan to resolve any incident.

primary triage

A type of patient sorting used to rapidly categorize patients; the focus is on speed in locating all patients and determining an initial priority as their conditions warrant.

public information officer (PIO)

In incident command, the person who keeps the public informed and relates any information to the media.

rehabilitation area

The area that provides protection and treatment to fire fighters and other responders working at an emergency. Here, workers are medically monitored and receive any needed care as they enter and leave the scene.

rehabilitation supervisor

In incident command, the person who establishes an area that provides protection for responders from the elements and the situation.

safety officer

In incident command, the person who monitors the scene for conditions or operations that may present a hazard to responders and patients; he or she may stop an operation when responder safety is an issue.

secondary containment

An engineered method to control spilled or released product if the main containment vessel fails.

rescue supervisor

In incident command, the person appointed to determine the type of equipment and resources needed for a situation involving extrication or special rescue; also called the extrication officer.

secondary triage

A type of patient sorting used in the treatment area that involves retriage of patients.

single command system

A command system in which one person is in charge, generally used with small incidents that involve only one responding agency or one jurisdiction.

span of control

In incident command, the subordinate positions under the commander's direction to which the workload is distributed; the supervisor/worker ratio is one supervisor for five subordinates.

staging supervisor

In incident command, the person who locates an area to stage equipment and personnel and tracks unit arrival and deployment from the staging area.

START triage

A patient sorting process that stands for Simple Triage And Rapid Treatment and uses a limited assessment of the patient's ability to walk, respiratory status, hemodynamic status, and neurologic status.

termination of command

The end of the incident command structure when an incident draws to a close.

toxicity levels

Indicates the risk that a hazardous material poses to the health of an individual who comes into contact with it.

transportation area

The area in a mass-casualty incident where ambulances and crews are organized to transport patients from the treatment area to receiving hospitals.

transportation supervisor

In incident command, the person in charge of the transportation sector in a mass-casualty incident who assigns patients from the treatment area to awaiting ambulances in the transportation area.

treatment area

The location in a mass-casualty incident where patients are brought after being triaged and assigned a priority, where they are reassessed, treated, and monitored until transport to the hospital.

treatment supervisor

In incident command, the person, usually a physician, who is in charge of and directs EMS providers at the treatment area in a mass-casualty incident.

triage

The process of sorting patients based on the severity of injury and medical need to establish treatment and transportation priorities.

triage supervisor

In incident command, the person in charge of the incident command triage sector who directs the sorting of patients into triage categories in a mass-casualty incident.

unified command system

A command system used in larger incidents in which there is a multiagency response or multiple jurisdictions are involved.

warm zone

The area located between the hot zone and the cold zone at a hazardous materials incident. The decontamination corridor is located in this zone.

active shooter event

An act of terror in which firearms are used in an ongoing assault of multiple people.

aging

The process by which the temporary bond between the organophosphate and acetylcholinesterase undergoes hydrolysis, resulting in a permanent covalent bond.

alpha radiation

a type of energy that is emitted from a strong radiologic source; it is the least harmful penetrating type of radiation and cannot travel more than a few inches or penetrate most objects

anthrax

A disease caused by deadly bacteria (Bacillus anthracis) that lay dormant in a spore (protective shell); the germ is released from the spore when exposed to the optimal temperature and moisture. The routes of entry are inhalation, cutaneous, and gastrointestinal (from consuming food that contains spores).

Antidote Treatment Nerve Agent Auto-Injector (ATNAA)

a nerve agent antidote kit containing atropine and pralidoxime chloride; delivered as a single dose through one needle

bacteria

microorganisms that reproduce by binary fission. These single-cell creatures reproduce rapidly. Some can form spores (encysted variants) when environmental conditions are harsh

beta radiation

a type of energy that is emitted from a strong radiologic source; it is slightly more penetrating than alpha radiation and requires a layer of clothing to stop it

B-NICE

A memory device to recall the types of weapons of mass destruction: biologic, nuclear, incendiary, chemical, and explosive.

botulinum

Produced by bacteria, this is the most potent neurotoxin known. When introduced into the body, this neurotoxin affects the nervous system's ability to function and causes botulism.

buboes

Enlarged lymph nodes (up to the size of a tennis ball) that were characteristic in people infected with the bubonic plague.

bubonic plague

Bacterial infection that affects the lymphatic system. It is transmitted by infected rodents and fleas and characterized by acute malaise, fever, and the formation of tender, enlarged, inflamed lymph nodes that appear as lesions, called buboes. Also called the Black Death.

chlorine (Cl)

The first chemical agent ever used in warfare. It has a distinct odor of bleach and creates a green haze when released as a gas. Initially it produces upper airway irritation and a choking sensation.

contact hazard

The term used to describe danger posed by a chemical whose primary route of entry into the body is through the skin; posed by a hazardous agent that gives off very little or no vapors; also called a skin hazard.

contagious

An infectious disease that spreads from one human to another; communicable.

covert

An act in which the public safety community generally has no prior knowledge of the time, location, or nature of the attack.

cross-contamination

Occurs when a person is contaminated by an agent as a result of coming into contact with another contaminated person.

cyanide

An agent that affects the body's ability to use oxygen. It is a colorless gas that has an odor similar to almonds. The effects begin on the cellular level and are very rapidly seen at the organ and system levels.

decay

A natural process in which a material that is unstable attempts to stabilize itself by changing its structure.

dirty bomb

Name given to an explosive radiologic dispersal device.

disease vector

An animal that, once infected, spreads a disease to another animal.

dissemination

The means by which a terrorist will spread an agent, for example, by poisoning the water supply or aerosolizing the agent into the air or ventilation system of a building.

domestic terrorism

Terrorism that is carried out by people in their own country.

DuoDote Auto-Injector

A nerve agent antidote kit containing atropine and pralidoxime chloride; delivered as a single dose through one needle.

G agents

Early nerve agents that were developed by German scientists in the period after World War I and into World War II. There are three such agents: sarin, soman, and tabun.

gamma (x-ray) radiation

a type of energy source that s emitted from a strong radiologic source that travels faster and had more energy than alpha and beta rays. These rays easily penetrate through the human body and require lead of several inches of concrete to prevent penetration

incubation

The period of time between a person being exposed to an agent to the first time when symptoms appear.

international terrorism

Terrorism that is carried out by people in a country other than their own; also known as cross-border terrorism.

ionizing radiation

Energy that is emitted in the form of rays, or particles.

lewisite (L)

A blistering agent that has a rapid onset of symptoms and produces immediate, intense pain and discomfort on contact.

lone wolf terrorist attack

An act of terror carried out by a single person to further an ideological goal

lymphatic system

A passive circulatory system in the body that transports a plasmalike liquid called lymph, a thin fluid that bathes the tissues of the body.

lymph nodes

The area of the lymphatic system where infection-fighting cells are housed.

miosis

Excessively constricted pupil; often bilateral after exposure to nerve agents.

mutagen

A substance that mutates, damages, and changes the structures of DNA in the body's cells.