Basic Level Pre-Course Reading

Chapter 6
Casualty Management
Post traumatic stress is a well-known phenomenon. Expect physical and
emotional instability not only in emergency responders but perhaps throughout
the whole target community. Physical ailments, work absenteeism, domestic
violence, and divorce rates often rise within the next year. Responders, those
exposed and the public will experience less stress if community planning has
resulted in a competent emergency agency response and a flow of clear,
directive, timely, useful information. Still, there will be some who need
psychological support.
6.4 Summary
First responders with Basic level training will face serious challenges when dealing with
CBRN casualties who require decontamination, triage, and first aid. These challenges
include specific operational guidelines that are unique to CBRN incidents. A committed
effort to cross-agency training in this area will ensure an effective team response.
Effective response to a terrorist incident involving CBRN agents requires psychological
preparation and skill in dealing with extremely stressed people. It is by nature, a very
chaotic situation involving critical challenges at intellectual, physical and emotional
levels. Shock may be experienced because of an inability to assimilate everything at
once. Feelings of helplessness can be compounded by not being able to “intervene” as
is the norm. This chapter has outlined the potential impact of the public response on
emergency services and has suggested ways to cope during a CBRN attack.
A terrorist attack could affect thousands of people both physically and psychologically
over a long period of time. This course will provide responders with information on
CBRN materials to help contend with these effects.
6.5 Review Questions
1. The main objective of mass casualty triage is to:
a) provide optimal care for all
b) treat those that are most seriously injured first
c) treat the greatest number for the greatest good
d) transport as many victims as possible away from the incident site
2. “Bull-horn first aid” is:
a) only used when treating casualties suffering from the effects of radiation
b) used when you cannot go near or safely touch casualties
c) used to direct victims to the nearest hospitals
d) used for crowd control
CBRN First Responder Training Program
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Basic Level Course