You Are the Emergency Medical Responder Lesson 44: Hazardous Materials Emergencies You Are the Emergency Medical Responder You are the first emergency medical responder (EMR) to arrive at the scene of a freight train derailment. According to the train’s 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.

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.

Resources About Hazardous Materials The Emergency Response Guidebook The Chemical Transportation Emergency Center (CHEMTREC) hotline CAMEO® online library of data Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) resources

Placards Emergency Medical Response

Indications of Hazardous 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

Three Safety Zones 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

Contamination Exposure Routes Topical (through the skin) Respiratory (inhaled) Gastrointestinal (ingested) Parenteral (intramuscular, intravenous or subcutaneous)

Decontamination Methods Gross Dilution Absorption Neutralization Isolation/disposal

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.

You Are the Emergency Medical Responder Based on what you see, you recognize the scene as a HAZMAT incident.