chapter 64 - Response to hazmat incidents Flashcards
acids
materials that have a pH value less than 7 (ex hydrochloric acid, sulfuric acid)
acute exposure
an exposure that occurs over a short timeframe (less than 24 hrs) usually occurs at a spill or release
air reactive materials
materials that react with atmospheric moisture and rapidly decompose
alpha particle
a positively charged particle emitted by certain radioactive materials
asphyxiants
chemicals that impair the body’s ability to either get or use oxygen
autoignition point
the temperature at which a material ignites and burns without an ignition source
bases
materials with a pH value greater than 7 (ex sodium hydroxide, potassium hydroxide)
beta particle
a negatively charged particle emitted by certain radioactive materials
boiling liquid expanding vapor explosion
an explosion that can occur when a vessel containing a pressurized liquid ruptures
boiling point
the temperature at which the vapor pressure of the material being heated equals atmospheric pressure (760 Hg); water boils to steam at 100 C (212 F)
bulk containers
large containers and tanks used to transport large quantities of hazardous materials
carboys
glass or plastic bottles commonly used to transport corrosive products
chemical asphyxiants
chemical that prevent the transportation of oxygen to the cells or the use of oxygen at the cellular level
chronic exposure
an exposure to low concentrations ocer a long period
cold zone
a safe area isolated from the area of contamination; also called the support zone. This zone has safe and easy access. It contains the command post and staging areas for personnel, vehicles, and equipment. EMS personnel are stationed in the cold zone
contamination
the deposition or absorption of chemical, biological, or radiologic materials onto personnel or other materials
contamination reduction zone
see warm zone
corrosive
any liquid or solid that can destroy human flesh on contact or has a severe corrosion rate on steel
cryogenic
pertaining to extremely low temperatures
cylinders
nonbulk containers that normally contain liquefied gases, nonliquified gases, or mixtures under pressure; cylinders also may contain liquids or solids
decontamination
the physical and chemical process of reducing and preventing the spread of contamination from persons and equipment used at a hazardous materials incident; also referred to as contamination reduction
emergency decontamination
the process of decontaminating people exposed to and potentially contaminated with hazardous materials by rapidly removing most of the contamination to reduce exposure and save lives, with secondary regard for completeness of decontamination
explosive
any chemical compound, mixture, or device, the primary or common purpose of which is to function by detonation or rapid compustion ; found in liquid or solid forms
flammable
the capacity of a substance to ignite
flammable gases
any compressed gas that meets requirements for lower flammability limit, flammability limit range, flame projection, or flame propagation as specified in CFR title 49, sec 173.300 (b) (ex butane, acetylene, hydrogen, propane)
flammable range
the concentration of fuel and air between the lower flammable limit or lower explosive limit and the upper flammable limit or upper explosive limit; the mixture of fuel and air in the flammable range supports combustion
flammable solids
a solid material other than an explosive that is liable to cause fires through friction, retained heat from manufacturing or processing, or that can be ignited readily; when ignited, they burn so vigorously and persistently that they create a serious transportation hazard (ex phosphorus, lithium, magnesium, titanium, calcium resinate)
flashpoint
the minimum temperature at which a substance evaporates fast enough to form an ignitable mixture with air near the surface of the substance
gamma rays
a type of electromagnetic radiation that can travel great distances; can be stopped by heavy shielding, such as lead
half-life
the measure of the rate of decay of a radioactive material; indicates the time needed for half of a given amount of a radioactive material to change to another nuclear from or element
hazard communication standard
HAZCOM - OSHA standard regarding worker protection when handling chemicals
hazardous materials
a substance (solid, liquid, or gas) capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, environment or property
Hazardous waste operations and emergency response
HAZWOPER - OSHA and EPA regulations regarding worker safety when responding to hazardous materials emergencies
hot zone
the area in which contamination currently exists or area that may be contaminated in a short period; also called the exclusion area. Patients are removed from this area to the warm zone for decontamination. Entrance to the hot zone requires proper PPE
immediately dangerous to life or health concentrations
IDHLs - maximal environmental air concentration of a substance from which a person could escape within 30 mins without symptoms of impairment or irreversible health effects
ionizing radiation
particles or pure energy that produces changes in matter by creating ion pairs
lethal concentration 50 %
LC50 - the air concentration of a substance that kills 50% of the exposed animal population’ this denotes the concentration and the length of exposure time that results in 50% fatality in the exposed animal population; also commonly noted as LCt50
half-life
the measure of the rate of decay of a radioactive material; indicates the time needed for half of a given amount of a radioactive material to change to another nuclear from or element
hazard communication standard
HAZCOM - OSHA standard regarding worker protection when handling chemicals
hazardous materials
a substance (solid, liquid, or gas) capable of posing an unreasonable risk to health, safety, environment or property
Hazardous waste operations and emergency response
HAZWOPER - OSHA and EPA regulations regarding worker safety when responding to hazardous materials emergencies
hot zone
the area in which contamination currently exists or area that may be contaminated in a short period; also called the exclusion area. Patients are removed from this area to the warm zone for decontamination. Entrance to the hot zone requires proper PPE
immediately dangerous to life or health concentrations
IDHLs - maximal environmental air concentration of a substance from which a person could escape within 30 mins without symptoms of impairment or irreversible health effects
ionizing radiation
particles or pure energy that produces changes in matter by creating ion pairs
lethal concentration 50 %
LC50 - the air concentration of a substance that kills 50% of the exposed animal population’ this denotes the concentration and the length of exposure
lethal dose 50%
LD50 - the oral or dermal exposure dose that kills 50% of the exposed animal population in 2 weeks
local damage
damage present at the point of chemical contact
lower flammable limit
the minimal concentration of fuel in the air that will ignite; below this point too much oxygen and not enough fuel to burn (too lean) are present; also called the lower explosive limit
material safety data sheet
MSDS - a document that contains information about the specific identity of a hazardous chemical; information includes exact name and physical properties and emergency telephone numbers
melting point
the temperature at which a solid changes to a liquid (ex ice melting to water at 0 C or 32 F)
mydriasis
dilation of the pupils
mational fire protection association
NFPA - international voluntary membership organization that promotes improved fire protection and prevention and establishes safeguards against loss of life and property by fire; writes and publishes national voluntary consensus standards
neutron radiation
penetrating radiation that can result in whole body irradiation
olfactory fatigue
desensitization of the sense of smell
occupational safety and health administration
OSHA - a unit of the us department of labor that establishes protective standards, enforces those standards, and reaches out to employers and employees through technical assistance and consultation programs
oxidation ability
the ability of a substance to readily release oxygen to stimulate combustion
permissible exposure limit
allowable air concentration of a substance in the workplace as established by OSHA; these values are legally enforceable
personal protective equipment
PPE - clothing and equipment worn to protect against environmental hazards
placards
diamond shaped signs placed on the sides and ends of bulk transport containers that carry hazardous materials
poisonous
describes gases, liquids, or other substances of such nature that exposure to a very small amount is dangerous to life or is a hazard to health; also know as toxic (cyanide, arsenic, pesticides, phosgene, aniline, methyl bromide, insecticides)
pounds per square inch
psi - the amount of pressure on an area that is 1 inch square
pyrophorics
substances that form self-ignitable flammable vapors when in contact with air
radioactive
the ability to emit ionizing radioactive energy
radioactive substances
any material or combination of materials that spontaneously emit ionizing radiation and have a specific activity greater than 0.002 (plutonium, cobalt, uranium 235, radioactive waste)
radioactivity
the spontaneous disintegration of unstable nuclei accompanied by the emission of nuclear radiation
secondary contamination
the risk of another person or healthcare provider becoming contaminated with a hazardous material by contact with a contaminated victim
secondary device
an explosive, chemical, or biologic device hidden at the scene of an emergency and set to detonate or release its agent after emergency response personnel are on scene
simple asphyxiants
inert gases and vapors that displace oxygen in inspired air (ex carbon dioxide, nitrogen)
specific gravity
the ratio of a liquid’s weight compared with an equal volume of water (which has a constant value of 1); materials with a specific gravity of less than 1 float on water, and materials with a specific gravity greater than 1 sink
systemic damage
damage remote to the site of exposure or absorption
threshold limit value
the airborne concentrations of a substance; represents conditions under which nearly all workers are believed to be repeatedly exposed day after day without adverse effects. Exposed day after day without adverse effects.
tube trailers
trailers that carry multiple cylinders of pressurized gases
upper flammable limit
the concentration of fuel in the air above which the vapors cannot be ignited; above this point too much fuel and not enough oxygen are present to burn (too rich) ; also called the upper explosive limit
vapor density
the weight of a volume of pure gas compared with the weight of an equal volume of pure dry air (which has a constant value of 1); materials with a vapor density less than 1 are lighter than air and rise when released; materials with a vapor density greater than 1 are heavier than air and sink when released
vapor pressure
the pressure exerted by a vapor against the sides of a closed container; a measure of volatility
volatility
a measure of how quickly a material passes into the vapor or gas state; the greater the volatility, the greater its rate of evaporation
warm zone
area surrounding the hot zone that functions as a safety buffer area, decontamination area, and as an access and egress point to and from the ot zone; also called the contamination reduction zone
water reactive materials
materials that violently decompose and or burn vigorously when they come in contact with moisture
water solubility
the degree to which a material or its vapors are soluble in water
five levels of training are
awareness, operations, technician, specialist, incident commander
NFPA levels
level 1 is patient care in cold zone
level 2 is patient care using ppe in warm zone
what are the 9 classes of haz materials
explosives, gasses, flammable or combustible liquids, flammable solids, oxidizing substances, poisonous and infectious substances, radioactive, crossive materials, miscellaneous haz materials
what are the routes of exposure
inhalation, exposure, injection, skin or eye absorption (inhalation being the quickest and most common route of chemical exposure)
CAMEO
computer aided management of emergency operations - allows first responders to assist in the response to chemical emergencies and can be used to access, store, and evaluate information critical for developing emergency plans
what is the order of patient care in the warm zone
ABC2DE - airway, breathing, circulation, cervical spine stabilization, decontamination, evaluate for systemic toxicity
what are the signs and symptoms seen after exposure to pesticide chemicals
SLUDGEBBM - salivation, lacrimation, urination, defecation, gastrointestinal distress, emesis, bradycardia, bronchoconstriction, miosis
denial criteria into a hot zone include
body temp greater than 99.2, pulse is greater than 110/min, bp is greater than 150/90, RR is greater than 24/min, new onset of: cardiac complaints, respiratory, hypertension, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea
