Substance Attack Scenario (Responder)

Reviewing the scenario, what category would this ‘attack’ come under?

Your colleague gets on the radio and starts requesting further support and security to the scene. You can smell a strong chemical smell from the patient and his tent, what first priority should you consider?

Following recent years updates to CBRN recognition and response, what new assessment tool is used to help identify incidents? 

The patient is shouting in pain and says he feels sick. He is still sat in his tent and you can see his clothing is starting to lighten in colour where there is liquid present. Security guards are on scene and are searching for the attacker. What early protocol can you use to assist the patient with decontamination? 

You gain control of the scene and advise anyone not effected to move away to a safe distance. You keep a good distance between yourself and the patient, and you instruct them to exit the tent and carefully remove their clothing. What is the last element of the remove protocol?

You throw some paper towels at the patient and advise them to dab off the substance. You and your colleague don all your coverall PPE, eye protection, aprons and gloves. Having removed the patient from the risk area, and removed as much substance from him, you dynamically risk assess and deem it suitable to get closer and provide some treatment.  

A security guard brings over a hose pipe as per your colleague’s request. You explain to the patient you are going to irrigate the burn. When dealing with a chemical burn, up to how long can irrigation be continued? 

Your colleague starts irrigating the left arm, you search across his body but the injury and contamination seems isolated. When irrigating a chemical burn, what should you be aware of when managing water run off?

You assess the patient and complete observations. There are no immediate threats to life and the patients’ main complaint is the pain. You have Penthrox available for treatment, can you administer it within this patient setting?

You confirm there is no possibility of cross contaminating the patients’ mouth with the Penthrox device. The pain relief quickly sets in and the patient begins to calm. You see your Paramedic colleagues approaching with a stretcher device and the Police. The patient has had 10 minutes of water irrigation so far, what risk can form from prolonged irrigation?

Your colleagues arrive on scene and take a handover from you. They package the casualty and gain IV access, giving further analgesia. Some emergency services carry antidotes that can be applied where there are corrosive substance attacks, True or False?