Hazardous Materials Response

1

What is the best way to plan for potential hazardous material (HAZMAT) incidents in a particular region or community?

Management of HAZMAT incidents begin well before the alarm goes off. Every organization involved in HAZMAT response should perform a comprehensive vulnerability analysis to identify any and all potential threats for their particular community. This includes working with governmental organizations, businesses, and other community stakeholders to develop a comprehensive plan for any incident that may develop within the local region. This “all-hazards preparedness approach” is supported by the Homeland Security Presidential Directive, a Presidential Policy directive by President George W. Bush in 2003 in response to the September 11 terrorist attacks. Its goals are to strengthen preparedness capabilities at the federal, state, and local levels and to enhance the preparedness and response to terrorist incidents, major disasters, and other emergencies.

2

How should EMS agencies plan for HAZMAT incidents?

The development of standard operating guidelines (SOGs) is an essential process that delineates the roles, responsibilities, and response procedures of all parties involved in the response. These guidelines address specific procedures such as personal protective equipment (PPE) use, medical decontamination, and decontamination for emergency personnel. Of particular importance to EMS is the need to identify which agency will be providing medical support throughout the various stages of the incident, and ensuring mutual aid is available as necessary. This ensures that the personnel responsible for providing medical care have the necessary protocols, resources, and training to successfully respond to an incident. Ongoing multiagency training and education are essential in maintaining peak response capabilities at the provider and operational level.

3

What are the initial considerations for first responders who are responding to a reported HAZMAT incident?

The primary consideration following a HAZMAT incident should be to ensure scene safety. This includes protecting responders from exposure, isolation of the scene from additional persons, and limiting additional exposure of victims to the material. Attempts to identify the actual or suspected material may then be safely conducted. The scale of the incident should be assessed to determine the resources needed and the number of victims that require care. Establishment of incident command should be performed as soon as possible to provide structured response and unified command. Local evacuation may be considered if deemed necessary by the incident commander and often requires substantial EMS resources.

4

What are the three “zones” that should be established in the initial phase of a HAZMAT incident?

Once a perimeter has been established, three zones must be designated with respect to contamination. The exclusion zone (hot zone) is the area of actual or potential contamination that poses the highest risk to responders and patients. The contamination-reduction zone (warm zone) is generally the transition point between hot and cold zones and is where most decontamination occurs. The support zone (cold zone) is free from contamination and is where planning, staging, medical care, and rehabilitation operations are performed. This zone should ideally be situated upwind and uphill from the incident.

5