NCJ Number
192792
Date Published
1997
Length
90 pages
Annotation
This document provides information on the “first responder” concept and emphasizes the importance of safety at hazardous materials incidents (intentional or accidental).
Abstract
A hazardous material is any substance in quantity or form that may pose an unreasonable risk to health, safety, or property. A first responder is an individual who responds to an occurrence of a potentially uncontrolled release of a hazardous material. The responsibilities of the first responder are to approach and detect the presence of hazardous materials, identify the materials involved, communicate information accurately, establish initial scene management, initiate protective actions, and brief incident commander. Hazardous materials incidents differ from other emergencies in many ways: (1) the complexity is greater; (2) the impact on victims, responders, the community, and the environment; (3) the harm can be thermal, radioactive, chemical, or mechanical; (4) exposures can be acute or chronic; (5) protective clothing must be used; and (6) the toxicity of hazardous materials. Hazardous materials are a threat to health, property, and the environment and are potential ignition sources. In providing emergency medical care, the responder must remember to think “safety first” and not rush to aid the victim until steps are taken to render the action safe. They may encounter contaminated victims and could potentially become contaminated themselves. Contaminated victims with no life threatening injuries should be decontaminated by properly trained personnel. Clues for detecting hazardous materials presence include occupancy and/or location, container shapes, markings and colors, placards and labels, shipping papers, and senses. Clues for recognizing terrorist activities include easy public access, little or no warning, target related to cause of known terrorist groups, and known recent threats to target. Response or incident management includes establishing a command post, implementing the command sequence, and establishing a secure zone and protective actions. 7 attachments