CBRNE 10.02 - Chemical Weapons/Agents Flashcards
Define Chemical Warfare
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
Define Chemical Agents
Chemical substance which is intended for use in military operations to kill, seriously injure, or incapacitate man through its psychological effects
What are the two main categories of chemical agents?
- Lethal
- Non-Lethal
List the six classes of chemical agents
Lethal:
1. Nerve Agents
2. Blood Agents
3. Pulmonary (Choking) Agents
4. Vesicant (Blister) Agents
Non-Lethal:
5. Physical Incapacitants
6. Mental Incapacitants
List the four classes of lethal chemical agents
- Nerve Agents
- Blood Agents
- Pulmonary (Choking) Agents
- Vesicant (Blister) Agents
List the two classes of non-lethal chemical agents
- Physical Incapacitants
- Vomiting
- Tear
- Mental Incapacitants
What are the three types of chemical attacks?
- Persistent
- Non-persistent
- Harassing
What is the objective of persistent chemical attacks?
Produce delayed casualties and/or restrict use of area, equipment and supplies. Can present as liquid, solid and vapor hazard
What is the objective of non-persistent chemical attacks?
Seek to produce casualties before unit can mask/don IPE by establishing a high concentration of vapor in the target area within 15 seconds
What is the objective of harassing attacks?
Reduce combat effectiveness by forcing personnel to stay in MOPP for long periods, frequently don/doff IPE, create casualties through potential carelessness
List the five routes of entry for chemical agents
- Eyes
- Nose
- Mouth
- Skin
- Open wounds
List the four methods used to disseminate chemical agents
- Liquid
- Solid
- Vapor
- Dust
What types of weather and terrain factors impact chemical agents
- Temperature
- Humidity
- Wind
- Speed
- Direction
- Stability
- Precipitation
- Topography
- Vegetation
- Soil Condition
Are chemical agents more likely to be used in favorable or unfavorable weather?
Chemical agents are more likely when weather is favorable. Type of agent and method of dissemination are factors in the chance/method of attack
What kind of terrain allows for the most effective dissemination of chemical agents
Flat country allows even steady movement
What kind of terrain would have the most dangerous concentrations of a chemical agent
Most dangerous concentrations persist in low ground
What vegetation would provide some protection against liquid attacks?
Tree canopies have a degree of protection from liquid attacks
What is the most dangerous chemical agent?
Nerve agents due to the small amount required to cause casualties
What are the four types of non-persistent nerve agents?
- Sarin (GB)
- Tabun (GA)
- Soman (GD)
- Cyclo-Sarin (GF)
What is the one type of persistent nerve agents?
Thickened agent (VX)
What does GB stand for?
What does GF stand for?
What does GA stand for?
What does GD stand for?
What are the onsets of action for Nerve Agents by route
- 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.
How do nerve agents work?
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
List the mild signs and symptoms for nerve agents
- Vision abnormality/dimmed vision *Miosis
- Unexplained rhinorrhea
- Unexplained frontal headache
- Sudden drooling
- Tightness in chest
- Diaphoretic, involuntary muscle contractions
- Stomach cramps
- Nausea
List the moderate signs and symptoms for nerve agents
- 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
List the severe signs and symptoms for nerve agents
- Not alert/acting appropriately
- Wheezing, dyspneic, coughing
- Myosis, read eyes, tearing
- Vomiting
- Severe muscle contractions/general weakness
- Involuntary urination/defecation
- Convulsions
- Unconsciousness
- Respiratory failure
Break down the SLUDGE mnemonic
Salivation (drooling)
Lacrimation
Urination
Defecation
Gastrointestinal upset
Emesis
Break down the DUMBBELS mnemonic
Defection
Urination
Miosis/Muscle weakness
Bronchospasm/Bronchorrhea
Bradycardia
Emesis
Lacrimation
Salivation/sweating
