Emergency Medical Response Hazardous Materials Emergencies

Emergency Medical Response You Are the Emergency Medical Responder You are the first emergency medical responder (EMR) to arrive at the scene of a freight train derailment. According to the train’s placards and signage, several of the cars are carrying liquefied chlorine gas, at least two cars are leaking Lesson 44: Hazardous Materials Emergencies and there is a yellowish cloud hanging low over the area. The winds are light, about 5 to 10 miles per hour (mph) and are coming from the northeast.

Emergency Medical Response HAZMAT  Any chemical substance or material that can pose a threat or risk to life, health, safety and property if not properly handled or contained  Federal law requires that placards or signs be placed on vehicles that contain quantities of hz materials  Manufacturers, production and distribution are required to display the appropriate placards

Emergency Medical Response Resources About Hazardous Materials  The Emergency Response Guidebook  The Chemical Transportation Emergency Center (CHEMTREC) hotline  CAMEO® online library of data  Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) resources

Placards Emergency Medical Response

Hazardous Materials Incidents  HZMAT incident is any situation that deals with the release of a hazardous material  Structured system is established to provide guidance  Indications of the presence of hz materials  Placards  Spilled, splattered, smoking, burning or boiling materials  Unusual odors  Vapor clouds  Containers that are leaking (with possible frost near the leak), in deteriorating condition or otherwise atypical  Your role as an EMR is initial identification

Emergency Medical Response Three Safety Zones  Radiation – if suspected, full turnout gear/SCBA  Hot zone  Exclusion zone  Greatest amount of danger  Warm zone  Contamination reduction zone  Immediately outside hot zone  Cold zone  Support zone  Removal of all contaminated PPE and equipment before entering

Emergency Medical Response Contamination Exposure Routes  Topical (through the skin)  Respiratory (inhaled)  Gastrointestinal (ingested)  Parenteral (intramuscular, intravenous or subcutaneous)  Park uphill/upwind  Number of patients  Follow safety precautions to minimize exposure  Concentrate on life-threatening signs/symptoms

Emergency Medical Response Decontamination Methods  Gross  Dilution  Absorption  Neutralization  Isolation/disposal

Emergency Medical Response Activity You are assisting at a HAZMAT incident involving an explosion in a chemical plant. Several of the employees were exposed when the chemicals sprayed into the air and onto themselves and their clothing. Hot, warm and cold zones have been set up.

Emergency Medical Response You Are the Emergency Medical Responder Based on what you see, you recognize the scene as a HAZMAT incident.