Be Aware!

Remember, when arriving on the scene of a terrorist chemical agent event….. Be AWARE! Approach scene from upwind/upgrade Wear SCBA and Personal Protective Clothing Alert other first responders of potentially dangerous conditions, including “ordinary” hazards (ex. down power lines, etc.) Restrict entry to area Evaluate victim’s signs and symptoms and alert command. Bacteria – Microorganisms capable of reproducing outside of living cells. Anthrax (Bacillus anthracis) Route of entry: Inhalation, cuts in skin Incubation period: 1-7 days * Contagious: No Mortality: 80%-90% (respiratory) Symptoms: Nausea, fever, chills, swelling of lymph nodes. Followed by sudden onset of respiratory distress w/dyspnea, stridor, and cyanosis. Shock and death commonly follow within 24 to 36 hours. Tularemia (Francisella tularensis) Route of entry: inhalation (inhaling 10 to 50 organisms will cause disease), handling contaminated animal fluids, bitten by deer flies, mosquitoes or ticks. Incubation period: 2 to 10 days * Contagious: No Mortality: 5% Symptoms: Fever, chills, headache, myalgias, non-productive cough, sometimes pneumonia Plague (Yersinia Pestis) Route of entry: Flea bites, inhalation. Contagious: Yes Respiratory tract is at risk if agent is aerosolized. Incubation period: 2-3 days * Mortality: Almost 100% of Pneumonic victims Symptoms: Headache, shortness of breath, high fever, chills, spitting up blood. Normally found in infected rodents. Spreads to humans from infected fleabites or by inhalation of the organism. Viruses – Infectious submicroscopic organisms that can only reproduce inside living cells. Smallpox Route of entry: Inhalation Incubation period: 10-12 days * Contagious: Yes Mortality: 30% Symptoms: Fever, vomiting, headache, backache, lesions (after 2-3 days) Ebola (Ebola Hemorrhagic Fever) Route of entry: Person to person contact blood/body fluids. Incubation period: 2-21 days * Contagious: Yes Mortality: 50-90% Symptoms: Weakness, muscle pain, fever, headache, sore throat, rash, vomiting, internal/external bleeding. Venezuelan Equine Encephalitis (VEE) Highly infectious-100% of exposed develop symptoms Person to person spread does not occur Mortality rate: 1% Incubation period: 1 to 5 days * Symptoms: Spiking fevers, severe headache, light intolerance, nausea, vomiting, diarrhea Meningitis and encephalitis seen Toxins – Non-living poisonous substances produced through metabolic activities of living organisms Naturally produced poisons More toxic per weight than manmade chemical agents Non-volatile Minimal skin absorption Not prone to person to person transmission Botulinum Route of entry: Digestive, respiratory Incubation period: 24-72 hours * Contagious: No Mortality: 80% Symptoms: Weakness, dizziness, dry mouth and throat, blurred vision, dilated pupils, double vision, drooping eye lids, light intolerance, difficulty swallowing, difficulty speaking, respiratory failure. Staphylococcal Enterotoxin B Incubation period: 4-6 hours * Contagious: No Mortality: Low Symptoms: Ingestion – vomiting, abdominal cramps, explosive watery diarrhea Respiratory – high fever, cough, chills, prostration Ricin Route of entry: Digestive, respiratory, injection Incubation period: 24-72 hours * Contagious: No Mortality: High Symptoms: Nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramps, bloody diarrhea, difficulty breathing General Properties and Information Nonvolatile (will not evaporate). May be effective when dispersed as an aerosol or powder. Respiratory tract is the primary route of exposure. Other potential routes of exposure include abraded skin or unprotected eyes with certain agents. Weather plays a major role in effective dissemination outside. *Incubation periods may vary based on circumstances surrounding exposure and other factors Prepared by Deputy Chief Ted Jarboe and District Chief Bob Stephan Montgomery County Maryland Fire and Rescue Service Douglas Duncan, County Executive - Gordon Aoyagi, Fire Administrator