Copyright (c) The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. Permission required for reproduction or display Chapter 52 Hazardous Materials Awareness

52-2 Objectives

Hazardous Materials 52-3

Hazardous Materials According to the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA), a hazardous material is: A substance (solid, liquid, or gas) that, when released, is capable of creating harm to people, the environment, and property. 52-4

Safety Safety is the primary concern –Emergency Medical Technician and crew –Patient –Public Use standard operating procedures Dealing with hazardous materials requires extensive training and proper equipment 52-5

Chemical Protective Clothing 52-6

Chemical Protective Clothing 52-7

Chemical Protective Clothing 52-8

Chemical Protective Clothing 52-9

Scene Size-Up Park upwind and uphill from the incident –Stage a minimum of 2000 feet from incident Keep unnecessary people away from the area –Isolate the area –Keep people out Do not enter unless you are properly trained and fully protected 52-10

Scene Size-Up If trained and equipped to do so, identify and establish safety zones Initiate the National Incident Management System (NIMS) plan Designate the Incident Commander Announce the location of the command post 52-11

Identifying Hazardous Substances U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) Emergency Response Guidebook United Nations (UN) classification numbers NFPA 704 placard system UN/DOT placards Shipping papers Material safety data sheets 52-12

DOT Regulations U.S. Department of Transportation (DOT) regulates transporting of hazardous materials in the United States –Placard tells the class of the hazardous material –Four-digit number is keyed to the DOT’s Emergency Response Guidebook 52-13

NFPA’s Standard 704 Blue quadrant – health hazard Red quadrant – flammability hazard Yellow quadrant – reactivity hazard White quadrant – specific hazard –Radioactivity –Water reactivity –Biological hazard 52-14

Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDSs) MSDSs provide detailed information about the material Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) requires MSDSs to be kept on site anywhere chemicals are used If MSDSs can be obtained safely, they may be used to identify materials or products

Establishing Safety Zones Hot zone (exclusion zone) –Contains the hazardous material (contaminant) –Dangerous area 52-16

Establishing Safety Zones Warm zone (contamination reduction zone) –Controlled area –Used for entry into the hot zone and decontamination after exiting the hot zone –Must wear appropriate protective equipment 52-17

Establishing Safety Zones Cold zone (cold zone, support zone) –Area safe from exposure –Staging area for personnel and equipment –Incident Command Post located here 52-18

Approaching the Patient Ensure the scene is safe before approaching the patient Do not approach unless you are trained and equipped with appropriate PPE Remember to stay uphill and upwind as you approach Address gross decontamination 52-19

Decontamination Decontamination (decon) by physical and/or chemical processes is done to reduce and prevent the spread of contamination from persons and equipment used at a hazardous materials incident 52-20

Questions? 52-21