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UNIT TWO

Understanding Hazardous Materials

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Potential OutcomesTRACEM

• Thermal (Fire and/or Explosion)

• Radiological

• Chemical exposure

• Asphyxiation (Oxygen Deficiency)

• Etiological (Biological Hazards)

• Mechanical

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Thermal (Fire and/or Explosion)

• Heat from a fire or the heat released by a chemical reaction

• Extreme cold, such as liquefied gas or cryogenic liquids

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RadiologicalRadiological

Alpha - Most damaging, but least penetratingHazard – InternalShielding – Paper, dead layer of skin, travels 1 to 2 cm in air

+ +

Beta - Small particle; low penetrationHazard - Primarily external, but also internalShielding - Plastic, safety glasses, travels several feet in air

- -

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• Neutron - Highly penetrating• Hazard - External - most external dose due to

gamma• Shielding – plastic, water N

Gamma / X - Highly penetratingHazard - External - most external dose due to gammaShielding - Lead, steel, concrete, thick layers of water

Radiological (cont.)Radiological (cont.)

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Asphyxiation

• Oxygen Deficiency

• Chemical Reaction  THE RELEASE OF CERTAIN PRODUCTS (I.E. NITROGEN) CAN DEPLETE THE OXYGEN LEVEL BELOW SURVIVAL LIMITS.

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Chemical

• Toxic or poisonous effects

• Destructive effects from the exposure of the chemical on human tissue

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Etiological

• Bacteria

• Viruses

Bacillus anthracis

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Mechanical

• Debris

• Excessive percussion (Noise)

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Routes of exposure

• Inhalation

• Ingestion

• Absorption

• Injection

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Inhalation

• Nose

• Throat

• Trachea

• Lungs

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Ingestion

• Mouth

• Throat

• Esophagus

• Stomach

• Intestines

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Absorption

• Eyes

• Skin

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Injection

• Needles

• Projectiles

• Shards

• Nails

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Exposure to Hazards

• Acute

• Chronic

• Both types of exposures can have acute (immediate) and/or chronic (long term) effects.

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Terrorist Events

• Intentional release

• Secondary devices

• Inflict mass casualties

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Terrorist Chemical Agents• Choking Agents• Blood Agents• Blister Agents• Nerve Agents

The symptoms of these exposures can range from a runny nose to rapid death and are considered to be available to terrorist groups worldwide.

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Emergency Medical Care

Treatment only after emergency decon

“Safety First”

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Emergency Decon

If a rescue is attempted and is successful • the victim and the rescuer should be flushed

with copious amounts of water

• Strip their outer level of clothing • await hazardous materials operations level

responders to arrive

THE RESCUER NOW BECOMES A VICTIM BECAUSE OF UNKNOWN HAZARD

EXPOSURE!!!

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UNIT TWO TEST