Hazardous Materials Chapter 49 Flashcards

Hazardous Materials Overview

• Hazardous materials pose unreasonable risks to health, safety, or the environment when improperly handled.
• Recognition of hazardous materials includes observing victim symptoms and identifying labels, placards, and warning signs.

Awareness and First Responders

• First responders must understand hazardous substances, possible incident outcomes, and necessary notifications to communication centers.
• Identification of hazardous materials may require additional resources and notification protocols.

Operational Levels

• Operations-level personnel protect people and the environment from hazardous incidents, engaging defensively and avoiding direct contact.
• Technician-level responders actively manage contamination scenarios, utilizing special equipment and performing patient care during rescues.

Incident Zones

• Hot Zone: Contaminated area restricted to responders with proper training and personal protective equipment (PPE).
• Warm Zone: Surrounds the hot zone; entry requires trained specialists wearing appropriate PPE.
• Cold Zone: Safe area for paramedics to perform triage and patient care, away from hazards.

Hazard Classification

• DOT Class 1: Explosives
• DOT Class 2: Gases
• DOT Class 3: Flammable liquids
• DOT Class 4: Flammable solids and spontaneously combustible materials
• DOT Class 5: Oxidizing substances
• DOT Class 6: Toxic and infectious substances
• DOT Class 7: Radioactive materials
• DOT Class 8: Corrosive substances
• DOT Class 9: Miscellaneous hazardous materials

Identification and Marking

• Placards: Diamond-shaped signs identifying hazard classes on transport vehicles.
• Labels: Smaller indicators detailing specific hazards on individual packages.

Decontamination Strategies

• Four common decontamination methods: dilution, absorption, neutralization, and disposal.
• Dilution is the easiest method, using large amounts of water to wash contaminants.
• Absorption utilizes materials to soak up hazardous substances but may not effectively remove all contamination.
• Neutralization involves chemical reactions to mitigate hazardous materials but can pose risks during application.

Patient Treatment Considerations

• Care should be minimized for contaminated patients to avoid secondary exposure during invasive procedures.
• Corrosives can cause severe burns and require supportive treatment including airway management and pain control.
• Solvents can lead to immediate pulmonary symptoms and necessitate extensive decontamination due to potential severe effects.

Chemical Exposure Responses

• Pesticide poisoning induces symptoms detailed in the acronym DUMBELS and requires aggressive decontamination and airway protection.
• Asphyxiants like cyanide displace oxygen and require specific treatment protocols, including the administration of nitrites.

Toxic Products and Monitoring

• Combustion by-products vary based on burning materials and include toxic gases like carbon monoxide and formaldehyde.
• Patients arriving post-decontamination may still require protection from secondary contamination; PPE should be worn as needed.
• Medical monitoring should document hazardous materials involved, their effects, PPE details, and decontamination methods used.

Recovery and Reassessment

• The hazardous materials team should undergo evaluation in the cold zone for hydration and symptom monitoring before reentering the hot zone for further operations.

Test your knowledge on hazardous materials with these flashcards from Chapter 49. Each card provides key definitions and concepts related to hazardous materials and their risks, helping you better understand their impact on health and safety.