Hazardous Materials Emergencies

1
Hazardous Materials Emergencies
2
You Are the Emergency Medical Responder
Lesson 44 Hazardous Materials Emergencies

• You are the first emergency medical responder
  (EMR) to arrive at the scene of a freight train
  derailment. According to the trains placards and
  signage, several of the cars are carrying
  liquefied chlorine gas, at least two cars are
  leaking

• and there is a yellowish cloud hanging low over
  the area. The winds are light, about 5 to 10
  miles per hour (mph) and are coming from the
  northeast.
• How would you respond?
• What would you do?

3
Opening Scenario

• Identify the substance, is it hazardous?
• Follow incident plan
• Ensure scene safety
• Personal protective equipment
• EMRs must quickly be able to identify situations
  involving chemicals or to other hazardous
  material

4

• Video - Hazardous Materials Emergencies

5
HAZMAT

• Any chemical substance or material that can pose
  a threat or risk to life, health, safety and
  property if not properly handled or contained
• Federal law requires that placards or signs be
  placed on vehicles that contain quantities of
  hazmat materials
• Manufacturers, production and distribution are
  required to display the appropriate placards

6
Resources About Hazardous Materials

• The Emergency Response Guidebook
• The Chemical Transportation Emergency Center
  (CHEMTREC) hotline [phone]
• CAMEO online library of data
• Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS)
• National Institute for Occupational Safety and
  Health (NIOSH) resources

Why would use the guidebook what information
does is provide?
7
Placards
Emergency Medical Response
8
Hazardous Materials Incidents

• HZMAT incident is any situation that deals with
  the release of a hazardous material
• Structured system is established to provide
  guidance
• Indications of the presence of hz materials
• Placards
• Spilled, splattered, smoking, burning or boiling
  materials
• Unusual odors
• Vapor clouds
• Containers that are leaking (with possible frost
  near the leak), in deteriorating condition or
  otherwise atypical
• Your role as an EMR is initial identification

9
Three Safety Zones

• Radiation if suspected, full turnout gear/SCBA
• Hot zone
• Exclusion zone
• Greatest amount of danger
• Warm zone
• Contamination reduction zone
• Immediately outside hot zone
• Cold zone
• Support zone
• Removal of all contaminated PPE and equipment
  before entering

10
Scene Safety

• Establish a clear perimeter between zones
• Park uphill/upwind at safe distance
• Secure bystanders/keep away from scene
• Number of patients
• Follow safety precautions to minimize exposure
• Concentrate on life-threatening signs/symptoms

11
Contamination Exposure Routes

• Topical
• through the skin
• Respiratory
• inhaled
• Gastrointestinal
• ingested
• Parenteral
• intramuscular, intravenous or subcutaneous)

12
Decontamination Methods

• Gross
• Soap and copious amount of water
• Address immediate life-threatening situations
• Dilution
• Reducing the concentration of contaminate
• Absorption
• Using another material to absorb/hold contaminate

13
Decontamination Methods

• Neutralization
• Chemically altering a contaminate rendering it
  harmless
• Isolation/disposal
• Biohazard bags/containers

14
Activity

• You are assisting at a HAZMAT incident involving
  an explosion in a chemical plant. Several of the
  employees were exposed when the chemicals sprayed
  into the air and onto themselves and their
  clothing. Hot, warm and cold zones have been set
  up.
• Which method of decontamination would be most
  appropriate to use?

15
Activity Responses

• Gross decontamination of the individuals with
  soap and copious amounts of water when they enter
  the warm zone.
• Isolation/disposal would be used for any
  contaminated materials or equipment used

16
You Are the Emergency Medical Responder

• Based on what you see, you recognize the scene
  as a HAZMAT incident.

What questions should you ask yourself
immediately? What initial actions should you
take and why?
17

• Hazardous Substance
• Where is it coming from
• Condition of container
• Weather conditions
• of patients involved

• Actions taken next
• HAZMAT incident plan
• Establish safe zones
• Providing care