EMT chapter 39-Hazardous Materials, Multiple-Casualty Incidents, and Incident Management

Surge capacity

measurable representation of ability of a medical facility to manage a sudden influx of patients. It is dependent on a variety of variables including the number of open beds, physical space, supplies, staff, and any special considerations (such as contaminated or contagious patients).

What are the three criteria for assessing patients during triage?

Respiration, pulse, and mental status

What should be done with an EMT who has become emotionally incapacitated at an MCI?

Treat them as a patient and remove to rest (not allowed to return to work)

Blue area of NFPA 704 placard indicates

Health hazard

In addition to toxicity and flammability, which of these is among the harmful properties of hazardous materials?

Reactivity

Class 1 of the hazard classification system is

Explosives

Flammable solids, substances that are dangerous when wet, and spontaneously combustible materials are:

Class 4 materials

The yellow area of an NFPA placard represents

reactivity hazards.

Secondary triage

Follow up to help reassess and sort after initital triage (occurs in designated areas)

Chemical Transportation Emergency Center (CHEMTREC)

group, established in Washington, DC, is a service of the Chemical Manufacturers Association. They can provide your dispatcher or you with information about the hazardous material through a 24-hour toll-free telephone number

What must be assessed on a HAZMAT team member before they enter hot zone?

Baseline vitals

Emergency Response Guidebook (ERG)

provides the names of chemicals and concise but thorough descriptions of the actions that should be taken in case of a HAZMAT emergency

OSHA’s Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) standards identify five levels of training:

• First Responder Awareness. Rescuers at this level are likely to witness or discover a hazardous-substance release. They are trained only to recognize the problem and initiate a response from the proper organizations.

• First Responder Operations. This level of training is for those who initially respond to releases or potential releases of hazardous materials to protect people, property, and the environment. They stay at a safe distance, keep the incident from spreading, and protect others from any exposures.

• Hazardous Materials Technician. This level is for rescuers who actually plug, patch, or stop the release of a hazardous material. A minimum number of hours of training is required.

• Hazardous Materials Specialist. This level of rescuer is expected to have a more directed or specific knowledge of the various substances that the rescuer may be called upon to contain. This role allows the specialist to act as a site liaison with federal, state, local, and other government authorities with regard to site activities.

• On-Scene Incident Commander.

Hazardous material (HAZMAT)

any substance/material in a form posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, and property when transported in commerce

Unified command

command organization in which several agencies work independently but cooperatively.

National Incident Management System

(NIMS) the management system used by federal, state, and local governments to manage emergencies in the United States.

Single incident command

command organization in which a single agency controls all resources and operations