CBRNE 10.02 - Chemical Weapons/Agents

Question 1

Define Chemical Warfare

Answer 1

The use of chemical agents against humans, or animals to kill, injure, or incapacitate for a significant period of time and to deny or hinder the use of areas, facilities, or materials

Question 2

Define Chemical Agents

Answer 2

Chemical substance which is intended for use in military operations to kill, seriously injure, or incapacitate man through its psychological effects

Question 3

What are the two main categories of chemical agents?

Answer 3

1. Lethal
2. Non-Lethal

Question 4

List the six classes of chemical agents

Answer 4

Lethal:
1. Nerve Agents
2. Blood Agents
3. Pulmonary (Choking) Agents
4. Vesicant (Blister) Agents

Non-Lethal:
5. Physical Incapacitants
6. Mental Incapacitants

Question 5

List the four classes of lethal chemical agents

Answer 5

1. Nerve Agents
2. Blood Agents
3. Pulmonary (Choking) Agents
4. Vesicant (Blister) Agents

Question 6

List the two classes of non-lethal chemical agents

Answer 6

1. Physical Incapacitants
   
   • Vomiting
   • Tear
2. Mental Incapacitants

Question 7

What are the three types of chemical attacks?

Answer 7

1. Persistent
2. Non-persistent
3. Harassing

Question 8

What is the objective of persistent chemical attacks?

Answer 8

Produce delayed casualties and/or restrict use of area, equipment and supplies. Can present as liquid, solid and vapor hazard

Question 9

What is the objective of non-persistent chemical attacks?

Answer 9

Seek to produce casualties before unit can mask/don IPE by establishing a high concentration of vapor in the target area within 15 seconds

Question 10

What is the objective of harassing attacks?

Answer 10

Reduce combat effectiveness by forcing personnel to stay in MOPP for long periods, frequently don/doff IPE, create casualties through potential carelessness

Question 11

List the five routes of entry for chemical agents

Answer 11

1. Eyes
2. Nose
3. Mouth
4. Skin
5. Open wounds

Question 12

List the four methods used to disseminate chemical agents

Answer 12

1. Liquid
2. Solid
3. Vapor
4. Dust

Question 13

What types of weather and terrain factors impact chemical agents

Answer 13

• Temperature
• Humidity
• Wind
  
  • Speed
  • Direction
  • Stability
• Precipitation
• Topography
• Vegetation
• Soil Condition

Question 14

Are chemical agents more likely to be used in favorable or unfavorable weather?

Answer 14

Chemical agents are more likely when weather is favorable. Type of agent and method of dissemination are factors in the chance/method of attack

Question 15

What kind of terrain allows for the most effective dissemination of chemical agents

Answer 15

Flat country allows even steady movement

Question 16

What kind of terrain would have the most dangerous concentrations of a chemical agent

Answer 16

Most dangerous concentrations persist in low ground

Question 17

What vegetation would provide some protection against liquid attacks?

Answer 17

Tree canopies have a degree of protection from liquid attacks

Question 18

What is the most dangerous chemical agent?

Answer 18

Nerve agents due to the small amount required to cause casualties

Question 19

What are the four types of non-persistent nerve agents?

Answer 19

1. Sarin (GB)
2. Tabun (GA)
3. Soman (GD)
4. Cyclo-Sarin (GF)

Question 20

What is the one type of persistent nerve agents?

Answer 20

Thickened agent (VX)

Question 21

What does GB stand for?

Question 22

What does GF stand for?

Question 23

What does GA stand for?

Question 24

What does GD stand for?

Question 25

What are the onsets of action for Nerve Agents by route

Answer 25

• Inhaling, 1-2 breaths / 5-10 sec causes:
  
  • Symptoms in one minute!
  • Incapacitation in 90 seconds!
  • Death in 6 minutes!
• Ingestion also causes death in 6 minutes
• Several pinhead sizes drops of nerve agent liquid absorbed through
  skin/eyes causes death in 15-30 minutes.

Question 26

How do nerve agents work?

Answer 26

Nerve agents strongly inhibit acetylcholinesterase systematically at nerve junctions, which normally hydrolyses acetylcholine whenever it is released, resulting in accumulation of excessive amounts of acetylcholine affecting the Central Nervous System and Autonomic Nervous System

Question 27

List the mild signs and symptoms for nerve agents

Answer 27

• Vision abnormality/dimmed vision *Miosis
• Unexplained rhinorrhea
• Unexplained frontal headache
• Sudden drooling
• Tightness in chest
• Diaphoretic, involuntary muscle contractions
• Stomach cramps
• Nausea

Question 28

List the moderate signs and symptoms for nerve agents

Answer 28

• Mild symptoms severity increase
• Fatigue
• Weakness
• Muscle fasciculations (ticks/tremors)
• *Escalation from mild to moderate symptoms can indicate the
  patient remains exposed to agent, or inadequate atropine
  treatment thus far

Question 29

List the severe signs and symptoms for nerve agents

Answer 29

• Not alert/acting appropriately
• Wheezing, dyspneic, coughing
• Myosis, read eyes, tearing
• Vomiting
• Severe muscle contractions/general weakness
• Involuntary urination/defecation
• Convulsions
• Unconsciousness
• Respiratory failure

Question 30

Break down the SLUDGE mnemonic

Answer 30

Salivation (drooling)
Lacrimation
Urination
Defecation
Gastrointestinal upset
Emesis

Question 31

Break down the DUMBBELS mnemonic

Answer 31

Defection
Urination
Miosis/Muscle weakness
Bronchospasm/Bronchorrhea
Bradycardia
Emesis
Lacrimation
Salivation/sweating