4-1: Chemical Warfare

Question 1

Identify four types of casualty-causing agents.

Answer 1

Nerve, Blister, Blood, Choking

Question 2

Chemical compounds are more toxic OR less toxic than chemical agents.

Answer 2

Less toxic

Question 3

Which agent is described as follows? Odorless, amber-colored liquid similar to motor oil; Low evaporation rate; Likely to be absorbed as aerosol or liquid; Causes death within 15 minutes of fatal dose absorbed; Body detoxification rate is very low.

Answer 3

VX

Question 4

What are the three nerve agent antidotes?

Answer 4

Atropine sulfate, Pralidoxime chloride (2-PAM-Cl), Diazepam (CANA)

Question 5

6 categories to classify chemical agents

Answer 5

physiological effects, military use, physical state, persistence, route of entry, onset of effects

Question 6

How are chemical agents categorized based on military use?

Answer 6

casualty causing, incapacitating, chemical compounds

Question 7

How does the physical state of a chemical agent correlate to its persistency?

Answer 7

aerosols persist as long as the environment allows (low temp, low wind)

Question 8

Symptoms of MILD nerve agent exposure

Answer 8

pupils contract to pinpoints (myosis), headache, involuntary muscle twitching, chest tightness, mucus secretion from nose/mouth

Question 9

Symptoms of MODERATE nerve agent exposure

Answer 9

difficulty breathing, nausea

Question 10

Symptoms of SEVERE nerve agent exposure

Answer 10

involuntary defecation, urination, convulsions, paralysis of respiratory muscles, mental impairment, death

Question 11

Nerve agents are divided into two categories

Answer 11

G-series & V-series

Question 12

VX series nerve agents is..

Answer 12

most persistent of ALL chemical agents, death usually occurs within 15 mins

Question 13

Symptoms of blister agent

Answer 13

severe inflammation, blistering, destruction of skin tissues, can act on the eyes/mucus membranes/lungs/skin

Question 14

3 categories of blister agents

Answer 14

mustards, arsenicals, urticants

Question 15

How do blood agents act?

Answer 15

enter the body through inhalation, interfering with the normal transfer of O2 from red blood cells to body cells

Question 16

Symptoms of blood agent

Answer 16

convulsions and low pulse rate appear first, breathing may become rapid or labored (active phase), lack of energy, falling BP, difficulty breathing (passive phase)

Question 17

What is the ACTIVE phase of blood agent poisoning?

Answer 17

breathing rapid or choking may cause breathing to become labored

Question 18

What is the PASSIVE phase of blood agent poisoning?

Answer 18

lack of energy, falling blood pressure, difficultly breathing

Question 19

How do choking agents affect the body?

Answer 19

irritate and burn the entire respiratory tract when inhaled; gases damage tissue from the inside of the nose and throat, down to the smallest recesses in the lungs

Question 20

how long it will remain in one place

Answer 20

persistency

Question 21

> 24 hours

Answer 21

persistent

Question 22

< 24 hours

Answer 22

non-persistent

Question 23

high volatility means…

Answer 23

non-persistent

Question 24

low volatility means…

Answer 24

persistent

Question 25

percutaneous or non-percutaneous

Answer 25

route of entry

Question 26

enters thru respiratory trace, open wounds, eyes, ingestion

Answer 26

non-percutaneous (all agents that are vapors are this)

Question 27

enters thru unbroken skin or can damage skin directly

Answer 27

percutaneous

Question 28

quick-acting

Answer 28

onset of effects

Question 29

How do nerve agents work?

Answer 29

disrupt electrical impulse transmission in nervous system

Question 30

Delayed effect of choking agent

Answer 30

pulmonary edema (fluid filling the lungs)

Question 31

temporarily interfere with normal mental process resulting in an inability to think/act rationally

Answer 31

Incapacitating agents

Question 32

2 types of Incapacitating Agents

Answer 32

Psychochemical & Physiochemical

Question 33

How do psychochemical Incapacitating Agents work?

Answer 33

suppressing or overstimulating the nervous system

Question 34

How do physiochemical incapacitating agents work?

Answer 34

give a false alarm signal to the body which causes it to respond with a strong emotional stimulus

Question 35

What is the the pre-treatment for nerve agent exposure?

Answer 35

Pyridostigmine Bromide (PB) pills

Question 36

CO can start PB pill treatment for crew up to ___ week prior to entry into a high risk area

Answer 36

one

Question 37

What are the three nerve agent antidotes?

Answer 37

Atropine sulfate, Pralidoxime Chloride (2-PAM-Cl), Diazepam (CANA)

Question 38

What is Atropine sulfate?

Answer 38

first drug used in treatment for nerve agent poisoning, 16mg limit in the form of three 2 mg auto-injectors (the remaining 10 mg is for intravenous use if applicable)

Question 39

What is Pralidoxime Chloride (2-PAM-Cl)?

Answer 39

breaks initial bond between the nerve agent and cholinesterase, 900 mg limit in the form of three 300mg auto-injectors

Question 40

What is Diazepam (CANA)?

Answer 40

anticonvulsant drug, can only be administered by a corpsman, not used as self-aid bc it is used for an incapacitated person convulsing

Question 41

How to self-aid when exposed to a nerve agent?

Answer 41

1) ID mild symptoms of nerve agent exposure (myosis, headache, muscle twitching, chest tightness, mucus secretion) 2) Stop breathing and don mask 3) Self-administer one atropine injection in meaty thigh or glute and hold in place for 5-10s 4) Remove injector and bend needle back 180 degrees and hook into shirt pocket flap or wherever can be visible so that people know you have self-aided 5) Self-administer one 2-PAM Cl injection the same way 6) Wait 10-15 mins, if nerve agent symptoms subside of atropine symptoms become present (rapid pulse, dry mouth and skin), you should be good to go

Question 42

What are the steps of nerve agent buddy-aid?

Answer 42

1) ID SEVERE symptoms of nerve agent exposure in another individual and determine they are unable to self-aid 2) If vapor hazard still exists, don mask and don mask on casualty 3) Locate and account for casualty's atropine and 2-PAM Cl auto-injectors 4) Inject casualty with what is remaining of the 6 auto-injectors (3 atropine and 3 2-PAM Cl); hook all to the front of casualty's person 5) If required, locate corpsman to administer CANA 6) Notify medical and move casualty to CAA

Question 43

What to do in the event of BLOOD agent exposure?

Answer 43

Stop breathing, don mask

Question 44

What to do in the event of INCAPACITATING agent exposure?

Answer 44

Don mask and decontaminate the skin