Safety Issues for First Responders at ExplosiveCBW Events

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Safety Issues for First Responders at
Explosive/CBW Events Mass Disasters
Teaser version
Instructor - James B. Crippin Western Forensic
Law Enforcement Training Center
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This presentation is designed to give first
responders an introduction to hazards they now
face with the increasing risk of responding to a
terrorist event. It covers a vast multitude of
various situations that the first responder may
encounter.
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In addition to these situations, the first
responder will also get an introduction to
Incident Command and how it works, Explosive
recognition and investigation, chemical and
biological weapons and their effects.
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• In this age of terrorism, whether it is foreign
  or domestic, the first responder is being called
  on to deal with explosives and the results of
  explosive incidents more and more.
• Bombing incidents have increased from 2,960 in
  1989 to 5,196 in 1995. That is an increase of
  150 in just seven years. In addition to
  explosives, there are CBW issues as well to think
  about.

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The following are just a few of the topics that
will be covered
First Responder Responsibilities Jurisdictional
Issues Exercising Scene Safety Administering
Lifesaving Efforts Establishing Scene Security
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The types of scenes that the first responder can
encounter Scene Safety and Control Fatigue
Post Traumatic Stress
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Explosives recognitionSecondary
DevicesBoobytrapsChemical Biological Weapon
issues
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Evacuation Distances Blast Pressure Effects on
Structures Short Duration Blast Pressure
Effects on Unprotected Personnel
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Scene security issues Searching techniques
Search Procedures
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The following slides are taken from parts of the
full presentation
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Jurisdictional Issues

• Who is in charge?
• Locals, State, Federal authorities?
• For Federal agencies the jurisdiction is as
  follows
• March 1 1973, Title 18 United State Code
  Section 844
• Agencies effected are
• FBI
• BATF
• Postal Service

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Distance from device

• Always assume the Worst Case scenario
• More is Always Better
• If you can see the device, it can see you and
  therefore can kill you
• Move people away from the bomb, not the bomb away
  from people

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CBW Biological weapons

• Bacteria
• The diseases they produce often respond to
  specific therapy with antibiotics.
• Examples are Anthrax, Plague, Cholera
  Brucellocis
• Viruses
• They produce diseases which generally do not
  respond to antibiotics but which may be
  responsive to antiviral compounds, of which there
  are few available, and those that are available
  are of limited use.

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Scene Safety and Control

• In addition to a safety perimeter, a crime scene
  perimeter will also be established with a radius
  1 1/2 times the distance from the seat of
  explosion to the furthest point where items of
  evidence are located.
• Remember that its easier to shrink a perimeter
  than expand one!!

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The full version of this training program
encompasses the previously mentioned information
and more. It goes into greater detail and gives
data that the first responder can put to actual
use in real life situations. This type of data
includes evacuation distances and damage
assessments to both personnel and structures.
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This training qualifies for various federal
grants packages, especially those that are
targeted for anti-terrorism funds.
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The cost for this training is on a per person
basis. This price includes all class materials.
Please contact WFLETC for current pricing for
this and other courses.
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James B CrippinWestern Forensic Science Law
Enforcement Training Center(719) 544-1011
Phone[phone] Faxwfletc_at_hotmail.com or
wfletc_at_cripkit.com
For information about this and other courses
please contact