Medical Management of Chemical Casualties

Exposure to toxic chemicals has been an important medical issue for centuries. A particularly frightening type of exposure is the generation of mass casualties on the battlefield by the use of either chemicals developed specifically for that purpose or chemicals produced for industry and coopted for battlefield use. These agents can also produce civilian casualties during warfare and, when used by terrorists, cause both military and civilian casualties.

This handbook has been produced to help address the need for first responder training.

Signs and symptoms, field detection procedures, decontamination protocols, and medical management recommendations are included for:

• Lung-Damaging Agents: Toxic Industrial Chemicals
• Cyanide
• Vesicants (mustard gas, Lewisite, phosgene oxime)
• Nerve Agents (tabun, sarin, soman, GF, VX)
• Incapacitating Agents (BZ)
• Riot-Control Agents (CS, CN, CR, DM, and OC)