CBRN flashcards

32 cards. Read the term and the definition here. The deck at the top of this page is optional.

Nerve agent toxidrome

Muscarinic SLUDGE symptoms plus miosis, bronchoconstriction, muscle fasciculations, and seizures; death usually results from respiratory failure caused by bronchorrhea and respiratory muscle paralysis.

Sulfur mustard latency period

Blistering, eye injury, and airway damage typically appear 2 to 24 hours after exposure, so casualties may appear asymptomatic when first triaged at the scene.

Category A biological agents

Anthrax, botulism, plague, smallpox, tularemia, and viral hemorrhagic fevers; highest priority because they spread easily, cause high mortality, and require special preparedness action.

Persistent versus nonpersistent agents

Persistent agents such as VX and sulfur mustard remain hazardous on surfaces for hours to weeks, while nonpersistent agents such as phosgene and chlorine disperse quickly after release.

Ion mobility spectrometry

Detection principle used in most handheld chemical warfare agent detectors; ions drift at characteristic speeds to flag agent classes, but the technique can produce false positive alarms.

M8 and M9 paper

Color-change detector paper that reacts on contact with liquid nerve and blister agents; it does not detect agent vapor and cannot identify the specific chemical present.

Geiger-Mueller counter

Radiation survey instrument that detects beta and gamma radiation and reports counts per minute; it cannot identify specific radionuclides and has limited alpha detection capability.

Chain of custody

Documented, unbroken record of who handled a sample, when, and for what purpose, required whenever field samples may be used for legal or evidentiary purposes.

Level A protection

Fully encapsulating vapor-protective suit worn with self-contained breathing apparatus, used when the highest available level of skin, respiratory, and eye protection is required.

Air-purifying respirator limits

Air-purifying respirators may not be used in immediately dangerous to life or health atmospheres, at oxygen levels below 19.5 percent, or where the contaminant is unknown.

Permeation versus degradation

Permeation is molecular movement of a chemical through intact suit material; degradation is chemical loss of material strength; penetration is flow through seams, closures, or defects.

Two-in two-out rule

Entry teams work in pairs with a designated backup team ready outside the hot zone, allowing rescue of a downed responder without additional unprotected entries.

Gross decontamination

Immediate removal of bulk contamination by stripping clothing and washing with water and soap, performed at the decontamination line before technical or definitive decontamination.

Decon corridor layout

One-way flow from the hot zone through decontamination showers into the cold zone, with separate lanes for ambulatory and nonambulatory casualties to prevent cross-contamination.

Hypochlorite decon concentration

A 0.5 percent sodium hypochlorite solution, approximately a 1:10 household bleach dilution, applied to equipment and surfaces but never to skin, eyes, or open wounds.

Decontamination runoff control

Water used in decontamination must be contained, collected, and disposed of as hazardous waste, and is never released to storm drains or surface water.

Atropine for nerve agent

Antidote that blocks muscarinic receptors; 2 mg intramuscularly repeated every 5 to 10 minutes until secretions dry and breathing improves, with dosing not guided by pupil size.

Pralidoxime role

Oxime that reactivates acetylcholinesterase inhibited by nerve agent; it is most effective when administered early, before aging of the enzyme-agent complex renders reactivation impossible.

Hydroxocobalamin

First-line antidote for cyanide poisoning; it binds cyanide to form cyanocobalamin and is given intravenously alongside airway management, oxygenation, and supportive care.

Potassium iodide use

Blocks thyroid uptake of radioactive iodine when given before or shortly after exposure; it protects only the thyroid gland and only against radioiodine isotopes.

Span of control

The number of subordinates one supervisor can effectively manage; the Incident Command System targets three to seven, with five as the optimal ratio.

Unified Command

Structure in which agencies with jurisdiction or responsibility jointly establish objectives and approve a single Incident Action Plan for the incident.

Operational period

The time span covered by one Incident Action Plan, usually 12 to 24 hours, after which objectives are reviewed, resources reassessed, and the plan updated.

Emergency Support Function 8

Under the National Response Framework, this function coordinates federal public health and medical response and is led by the Department of Health and Human Services.

HAZWOPER standard

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120, which establishes training, medical surveillance, and personal protective equipment requirements for hazardous waste operations and emergency response activities.

Select Agent Program

CDC and USDA program regulating possession, use, and transfer of listed biological agents and toxins that pose severe threats to public health, animal health, or agriculture.

Chemical Weapons Convention

1993 treaty, enforced by the OPCW, banning development, production, stockpiling, transfer, and use of chemical weapons and requiring declaration and destruction of existing stockpiles.

EMTALA obligation

Federal law requiring hospitals with emergency departments to provide a medical screening examination and stabilizing treatment regardless of a patient insurance status or ability to pay.

Full-scale exercise

Operations-based exercise involving actual deployment of personnel and equipment, simulated casualties, and real-time multi-agency response in a realistic exercise play area.

After Action Report

Document produced after an exercise or incident that lists strengths, areas for improvement, and corrective actions with assigned owners and target completion dates.

THIRA

Threat and Hazard Identification and Risk Assessment: a process that identifies threats and hazards, gives them context, and sets capability targets for preparedness planning.

POETE elements

Planning, organization, equipment, training, and exercises: the five components used to build, sustain, and assess a capability within the preparedness cycle.