Transcript You Are the Emergency Medical Responder

Lesson 46: Disasters, Terrorism and
Weapons of Mass Destruction
You Are the
Emergency Medical Responder
You are an EMR dispatched to the scene of an
explosion. On arrival you are staged with other
emergency vehicles one block away. You are told that
police suspect that a building was targeted by an
extremist group and it is uncertain if there were
injuries from the blast.
Emergency Medical Response
Terrorism
The unlawful use of force and violence against
persons or property to intimidate or coerce
government, the civilian population or any segment
thereof, in furtherance of political or social
objectives.
Emergency Medical Response
Preparation for
Disasters and Terrorism
 Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)
 National Response Framework (NRF)
 National Disaster Medical System (NDMS)
Emergency Medical Response
National Incident Management System
 Comprehensive national framework for managing
incidents
 Outline of structures for response activities for
command and management
 Provision of consistent, nationwide response at all
levels
Emergency Medical Response
Areas of NIMS
 Incident command systems (ICS)
 Multiagency coordination system (MACS)
 Unified command, training, identification and
management of resources
 Mutual aid and assistance
 Situational awareness
 Qualifications and certification
 Collection, tracking and reporting of incident
information
 Crisis action planning
 Exercises
Emergency Medical Response
Emergency Support Functions
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
Transportation
Communications
Public works and engineering
Firefighting
Emergency management
Mass care, emergency assistance, housing and
human services
7. Logistics management and resource support
Emergency Medical Response
Emergency Support Functions (cont’d)
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Public health and medical services
Search and rescue
Oil and hazardous materials response
Agriculture and natural resources
Energy
Public safety and security
Long-term community recovery
External affairs
Emergency Medical Response
Three Main Categories of Disasters
 Natural
 Human-caused (terrorist attacks,
HAZMAT incidents and MCIs)
 Biological
Emergency Medical Response
The EMR’s Role
 Leadership if first responder on the scene
 If you are not the first responder on the scene—
• Assist the leader.
• Assume other roles.
o Triage patients
o Provide medical care
o Provide patient reception at staging facilities
o Prepare patients for evacuation
Emergency Medical Response
Weapons of Mass Destruction
Known by the acronym CBRNE:
 Chemical
 Biological
 Radiological/Nuclear
 Explosives
Emergency Medical Response
Chemical Agents
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Nerve agents
Blister agents
Blood agents
Pulmonary agents
Incapacitating agents
Emergency Medical Response
Biological Weapons
 Class A weapons
 Class B weapons
 Class C weapons
Emergency Medical Response
Radiological/Nuclear Agents
 Damage due to the following:
• Air blast
• Heat
• Ionizing radiation
• Ground shock
• Secondary radiation
Emergency Medical Response
Explosives and
Incendiary Weapons
 High-order explosives: supersonic overpressurization shock wave
 Low-order explosives: subsonic explosion
Emergency Medical Response
Response to CBRNE/WMD Incident
 Preparation
• Medical direction
• Personal preparation
• Equipment
• Transportation and communication
 Equipment and supplies
 Arrival on the scene
 Scene safety
 Providing care
Emergency Medical Response
Nerve Agent Poisoning
 Initial effects dependent on dose and route
• Inhalation via gas
• Absorption through skin
• Ingestion from liquids or food
 Dose and amount of exposure leads to varying
effects
Emergency Medical Response
Care for Nerve Agent Poisoning
 Ventilation
 Antidotes
• Atropine
• Pralidoxime chloride
 Decontamination
 Continued monitoring and transport (if ingested)
 Nerve agent auto-injector kit (for self- or peeradministration of nerve agent antidote)
Emergency Medical Response
Activity
You and several other EMRs are providing care to
patients at the scene involving exposure to a nerve
agent. You observe a fellow EMR begin to sweat
excessively and cough. He starts complaining of
headache and nausea. You also notice a runny nose,
watery eyes and pinpoint pupils. You suspect that he
is exhibiting signs of nerve agent poisoning.
Emergency Medical Response
You Are the Emergency Medical
Responder
There is some question about the cause of the
explosion but police strongly suspect that is was a
terrorist attack using a WMD, most likely a highorder explosive. While in the staging area you
observe a large trash bag near a dumpster in close
proximity to staged apparatus.
Emergency Medical Response
Pandemic Flu
 Three pillars:
• Preparedness and communication
• Surveillance and detection
• Response and containment
 Phases:
• Early detection
• Treatment with antiviral medications
• Infection control measures
• Vaccination
Emergency Medical Response
Personal Preparedness
 Get a kit
 Make a plan
 Be informed
Emergency Medical Response