Unit 07: The Chemical Threat Flashcards
Chemical weapons involve the use of what against targets?
Chemical agents and their toxic properties
Chemical agents used as weapons have been referred to as what?
“The poor man’s atomic bomb”
Why are chemical agents referred to as “the poor man’s atomic bomb”?
Primarily because chemical agents are easier to acquire than other CBRN materials and can have devastating effects
Chemical agents exist in what forms?
Aerosol, Gaseous, and Liquid
Chemical agents can be dispersed in a variety of routes depending on what?
Their intended effects
Chemical weapons are weapons of what?
Terror and Intimidation
Chemical agents are a means of what?
Casualties and Destruction
The use of chemical weapons, as potentially with all WMD/CBRN weapons will have what kind of impact?
Psychological
Chemical Weapons have been used for over 1000 years to do what?
Conquer armies and terrorize societies
1000 B.C.E. evidence suggests the Chines used burning balls of what to smoke out enemies hiding in tunnels?
Mustard and other toxic plants
The threat from chemical agents can be understood to come from two general categories, what are they?
Chemical Warfare Agents (CWA’s) and Toxic Industrial Chemicals (TIC’s)
There are six categories of Chemical Warfare agents, what are they?
Nerve, Blister, Choking, Blood, Incapacitating, and Tearing
Nerve agents have properties similar to what?
Pesticides in high concentrations
What are four examples of Nerve agents?
Sarin, Tabun, Soman, and VX
What are four examples of Toxic Industrial Chemicals?
Pesticides, Fertilizers, Gasoline, and Propane
Why is there no practical way to come up with a complete list of toxic industrial chemicals?
Because the list of possibilities is so extensive
Why are the safety challenges with the production of chemical weapons not insignificant?
Because it poses serious risks to those involved in production
Chemical weapons production requires what to manufacture and remain stabilized in storage?
Specialized equipment
Chemical weapons requires what?
Pre-cursor chemicals
Fill in the blanks:
Pre-cursor chemicals are _________ to obtain due to the ___ and may _______ attention
Difficult, CWC (Chemical Weapons Convention), Attract
Why would chemical weapon acquisition not be a problem for most governments? (2)
There are at least 10 countries with a history of having/having had Chemical Warfare programs
Some of which have been signatories to the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC)
The more significant threat may be the one posed by what type of chemical?
Toxic industrial chemicals
The plan for response considerations of a chemical threat includes what two postures?
Aggressive offensive or in other cases a defensive posture
In relation to the response considerations for a chemical threat, what are the three initial steps?
Safety, Isolate, and Notify (SIN)
What are the three control zones?
Hot, Warm, and Cold
What is the hot zone? (5)
The area immediately surrounding the release; the most contaminated area
Complete, appropriate protective clothing and equipment
Boundaries should be set
Access must be limited to only necessary persons
All personnel and equipment must be decontaminated when they leave
What is the warm zone? (4)
Personnel and equipment transition in and out of the hot zone
Control points for access to hot zone
Decontamination corridor
PPE one level lower than that of the PPE used in the hot zone
What is the cold zone? (5)
Safe area where personnel do not need to wear protective clothing
Personnel staging
Command post
EMS providers
Area for medical monitoring and treatment after decontamination
In relation to response considerations, what are the two protective actions?
Evacuation and Shelter-in-Place
In relation to response considerations, where do you send evacuees? (3)
A definite place
By specific route
Far enough away so that they will not have to be moved if the winds shifts
What is the Protective Action Zone?
The area DOWNWIND from the incident in which persons may become incapacitated and unable to take protective action and/or incur serious or irreversible health effects
What does the ERG provide?
Specific guidance for day/night and small/large spills.
In general, removing and bagging the victim’s clothing removes up to how much of the contaminants?
80%
What is the minimal level of decontamination that is acceptable after exposure to a chemical or radioactive source?
Removing and bagging the victim’s clothing
