CBRN Sarin Gas Exposure from IED

Set in the woodland environment, the learner responds to the scene after reports of soldiers feeling ill after recovering an IED. The patients were on the road and recovered an IED that partially detonated, with its nose open and cracked. Unknown to them, it was a rare chemical weapon prototype 152-millimeter binary sarin shell. One casualty has mild symptoms, while the other has more significant symptoms. They will require decontamination and nerve agent antidote treatment.

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

– 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

– Identifies nerve agent exposure and treats with appropriate antidotes