Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism: TICs & TIMs

Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism
Training Support Package
Participant Guide
Slide 55
To review, some clues identifiable during the physical examination or routine laboratory
testing may also suggest radiation injury:
- Skin ulceration, skin peeling (desquamation), skin redness (erythema), loss of hair or
abnormal sweating of an area of skin which can be seen with exposure to beta-emitters
or localized injury from gamma or X-rays (often in association with findings of acute
radiation syndrome[ARS], such as):
- Unexplained infections or bleeding, particularly in the gums or gastrointestinal tract
usually seen a week or more into an episode of ARS.
- Weight loss, diarrhea, fluid or electrolyte imbalance, kidney failure; all as a component
of the multi-organ failure associated with severe ARS.
- Shock, connfusion, disorientation, brain edema, loss of coordination (ataxia), seizures,
or coma (1-2 days after a massive radiation exposure).
December 2008 Version 2.0 Page 417