Transcript Fresno County: Hazardous Materials

Management of Trauma
in Chemical Accident
Victims
Amit Gupta
Assistant Professor of Surgery
JPN Apex Trauma Center
All India Institute of Medical Sciences
Overview

HAZMAT Incident – Epidemiology
 What
are common materials
 What
are the common sites where accidents occur
 Fatality
of Hazmat Incidents

Spectrum of Injuries in Chemical Accidents

Mechanism of Injuries

Principles of Management of Chemical Accident
Victim

Summary
Chemical accident risks in U.S. industry - A preliminary analysis of accident risk data from U.S. hazardous chemical
facilities. James C. Belke United States Environmental Protection Agency
Frequency distribution of Chemicals used
Chemical accident risks in U.S. industry - A preliminary analysis of accident risk data from U.S. hazardous chemical
facilities. James C. Belke United States Environmental Protection Agency
Most common hazardous materials at fatal
hazmat incidents

Pesticides
24.4
Miscellaneous
17.3
Corrosives
16.7
Petroleum products
13.5
Airborne toxicants
7.7
Respiratory irritation with airway obstruction &/or respiratory failure
Hydrogen chloride


%
Ammonia


Hazardous Material
Respiratory irritation with airway obstruction &/or respiratory failure
Nitrogen fertilizer

Blast injuries with trauma & thermal burns
Hazardous Substances Emergency Events Surveillance (HSEES)
Site Distribution of Chemical Accidents

Fixed facility
 Industrial
 Agricultural
 Residential

Transportation-related
 Highway
 Railway
 Airport
 Port
Hazardous Substances Emergency Events
Surveillance (HSEES)

1,691 hazmat incidents with
 7,756

patients
61 fatal hazmat incidents with
 83
fatalities
 63 employees (76%)
 16 members of the general public (19%)
 4 rescue personnel responding to the hazmat
incident (5%)

1% case fatality rate
 83
of 7,756 hazmat patients died
Fresno County HAZMAT Incident Study
Patient Involvement
 107 (100%) total incidents
 97 (91%) incidents without patients
 10 (9%) incidents with patients
Patient Disposition
 68 (100%) total patients
 42 (62%) patients released at scene with on-line
medical control
 26 (38%) patients transported to emergency
departments
 4 patients admitted
 No fatalities
Key Epidemiological Points

More than one material possible per hazmat incident,
however - Most hazmat incidents involve only one
material

Most commonly encountered material is directly related
to local economy

Most hazmat incidents do not involve patients and have low
overall fatality

Most hazmat victims not admitted to hospitals

Hazmat training must emphasize

Personnel protection

Proper patient decon
Most Common Fatal Injuries

Most common reported fatal injuries
 Trauma
 Thermal
(65%)
burns (16%)
 Respiratory
irritation with airway obstruction
&/or respiratory failure (10%)
 Chemical
 Other
burns (6%)
causes (3%)
What is wrong with the patient


Physical Trauma
Exposure to Chemical HAZMAT
 Inhalation

Most common
 Skin

& mucous membranes
Common
 Ingestion


Unlikely
Toxicity
 Local
 Systemic
& Injection
Hazmat Incident Priorities

Communication

Protection of emergency responders

Prevention of secondary contamination
 Decon

Decreasing morbidity & mortality
 Medical
management
Scene Safety
Responder/Receiver safety first!
Responder/Receiver safety first!
Responder/Receiver safety first!
Protection of Responders: Hazmat Scene
Control Zones



Hot Zone
 Primary contamination
Warm Zone
 Decon of victims, rescue personnel, &
equipment
Cold Zone
 Incident command center
 Definitive Triage and immediate treatment
of decontaminated patients
Protection of Responders: Hazmat Scene
Control Zones
Crowd Control Line
Staging
Area
Decontamination Line
Hot Line
Drainage
Staging
Area
Access
Control Points
on (H ot) Zon
Exclusi
e
Command
Post
Access
Corridor
Con
tamin
atio
Wind
e
) Zon
n Reduction (Warm
S upport (Cold)Zone
NIOSH/OSHA Recommended Decontamination Zones (from ATSDR guidelines)
Medical Management of Hazmat Victims

Decon

Primary Survey & Resuscitation

Hazmat Patient Assessment
 AMPLE
History
 Secondary

Survey
Poisoning Treatment ParadigmTM
Skin Decontamination (Decon)

2 goals
 Prevent
secondary contamination
 Alter absorption

Is skin decon necessary?
 Usually not for gases & vapors
 Unless irritant gas causes signs or symptoms
 Necessary
for adherent solids or liquids,
including aerosols




If water-soluble, then use water
If not, then use water & mild liquid detergent
Dilution is the solution to pollution
Performed in warm zone
Skin Decon
2-step process

1st - Remove all clothing, jewelry,
shoes, & adherent material
 Bag,
tag, & leave possessions at scene
 Brush
 Blot

away adherent solids
away adherent liquids
2nd – Meticulously wash with large quantities of water
 Use
mild liquid detergent if adherent solids or liquids
are not water-soluble or are unknown materials
 Pay
attention to exposed skin in skin folds
Skin Decon: Special Areas
Commonly ignored during decon
 Including

 Scalp
 Body
hair
 Genitalia
 Skin creases & folds
 Hands
 Feet
 Nails
Man dropped bucket of silver paint that splattered onto
areas of body commonly ignored or forgotten during
decon.
Photo credit: Mike Vance, MD
Can of mace went off in pants pocket & pants not
removed in timely manner.
Photo credit: Mike Vance, MD
What can happen if genitals
are forgotten during
decontamination.
Photo credit: Mike Vance, MD
What can happen if skin folds are forgotten
during decon.
Photo credit: Mike Vance, MD
Close-up of what can happen if skin folds are forgotten
during decon.
Photo credit: Mike Vance, MD
What can happen if feet are forgotten during decon.
Photo credit: Mike Vance, MD
Eye Decon

Irrigate exposed, symptomatic eyes
immediately & continuously
Use
water or saline
 Water
is best
Readily
available in large quantity
Efficient

Check for & remove contact lenses
What happens if you don’t
decon eyes?
Mild corneal chemical burn
 Fluorescein indicates corneal burn site
 Adjacent chemical conjunctivitis
Photo credit: Mike Vance, MD
Photo credit: Mike Vance, MD
Severe corneal chemical burn
 Opaque cornea
 Blind eye
 Requires cadaver corneal transplant
Primary Survey & Resuscitation: The Basics
Performed only after adequate decon in
warm zone / ED Decon area
 Only two procedures performed before
decon

 Open
airway
 Spine precautions
Use common sense
 Safety comes first

Primary Survey & Resuscitation: The Basics

Airway with cervical spine control

Breathing

Circulation

Disability (nervous system)

Exposure with environmental control
Airway with Cervical Spine Control

Ensure open & protected airway

Perform definitive airway management
if airway is at risk, partially obstructed,
or completely obstructed
 Endotracheal
intubation preferred
 Cricothyroidotomy
if unable to intubate
Breathing
Ensure adequate ventilation &
oxygenation
 If not breathing

 Bag-valve-mask
ventilation with 100%
oxygen, then intubate

If breathing adequately
 100%
oxygen therapy if
Cardiopulmonary or neurological signs or
symptoms
 Possible carbon monoxide poisoning

Circulation





Check for pulse
If no pulse
 CPR
 Follow ACLS guidelines
If pulse
 Check blood pressure
 Follow ACLS guidelines
IV normal saline for moderate to severe signs
or symptoms
Monitor for shock & treat accordingly
Disability (Nervous System)

Continually assess level of
consciousness
 Mental
status trend impacts triage,
diagnosis, & treatment

If seizures develop, despite adequate
oxygenation & blood glucose
 Treat
with IV benzodiazepine
Exposure with Environmental Control

Remove patient clothing during Decon

Examine patient for other injuries
 Trauma

Treat the whole patient.
 Trauma

& burns
or burns can kill hazmat victim
Hypothermia is very realistic phenomenon
Hazmat Patient Assessment

Occurs concurrently

Only once Resuscitated and Stable

Patient history
 AMPLE

mnemonic
Secondary survey
AMPLE
 Allergies
 Medications
 Past
medical history
 Last normal menstrual period, Last
tetanus shot, & Last meal
 Events
Details
of incident
Symptoms
Secondary Survey

Identify poisoning complications

Recognize preexistent problems

Assess for trauma & burns

Recognize toxic syndromes
(toxidromes)
Identify Poisoning Complications

Airway Insufficiency


Ammonia etc.
Breathing Insufficiency

Aspiration pneumonitis, Noncardiogenic pulmonary edema
 Sarin, Phosgene etc.

Cardiovascular



Bradydysrythmias, Tachydysrythmias, Hypotension, Hypertension
Disability (nervous system)

Confusion, Agitated delirium, Combativeness, Seizures, Coma

Weakness, Paralysis, Sarin, etc
.
Elimination (liver & kidneys)
Preexistent Problems

Airway

 Overbite
 Small
jaw
 Big tongue

Breathing
 Asthma
 COPD

Cardiovascular
 Coronary Artery
Disease (CAD)
 Anemia
Disability
 Epilepsy

Elimination
 Renal
failure
 Liver failure
Recognize Toxic Syndromes
Toxic + syndrome = Toxidrome
 5 fundamental hazmat toxidromes

Irritant
gas
Asphyxiant
Cholinergic
Corrosive
Hydrocarbon &
halogenated hydrocarbon
Summary
 Decontaminate
 Primary
survey & resuscitation
 Poisoning
Treatment ParadigmTM
Identify
the hazardous material
Identify
poisoning complications
Identify
preexistent problems
Identify
toxidromes
Thank You for a patient hearing
JPN Apex Trauma Center
All India Institute of Medical Sciences