CBRN Radiation Accident with Burn Management

Set in the industrial environment, the learner responds to the scene after an explosion with possible exposure to radioactive material. One patient was in a closed room that caught on fire. He suffered extensive burns to the head, face and chest. This patient will require immediate airway management along with decontamination appropriate for radioactive material exposure, and will require burn resuscitation. A second patient is also present at the scene, but was largely unharmed by the incident. Learners should evaluate this patient for injury and perform appropriate decontamination.

Learning Objectives

– Recognizes potential hazardous material exposure and calls for appropriate supplies for decontamination

– Appropriately mitigates exposure risk to minimize exposure and contamination:
a. Dons appropriate PPE, including an appropriate mask, and gloves
b. Identifies environmental threats including vapor hazard, liquid, confined space and low oxygen environments
c. Moves the casualty away from the threat or agent, using the principles of fresh air, upwind, uphill, upstream, time, distance and shielding

– Assesses casualty to determine agent of concern, conducting triage and recognizing symptoms
a. C – Consciousness
b. R – Respirations. Are they present, labored, or absent
c. E – Eyes, pupil size
d. S – Secretions. Are they increased or absent
e. S – Skin. Is there diaphoresis, cyanosis, is it dry and hot

– Evaluates the casualty at the point of injury for life threats and performs immediate interventions if indicated. Identifies severe traumatic brain injury and performs appropriate interventions

– Performs a secondary assessment and efficient decontamination at the Dirty CCP
a. Evaluates circulation
b. Prevents hypothermia and evaluates for potential head injury
c. Prepares for extraction

– Performs a visual contamination and detector check before crossing the cold line