Module 1: The evolving threat of chemical terrorism

This module covers the current threat of chemical terrorism and how  it is relevant to medical professionals. This module also discusses powerful trends of emerging technology that will have a significant impact on the risk of chemical terrorism.

Module 2: Physico-chemical properties of chemical warfare agents

This module covers the physico-chemical properties of chemical warfare agents, their dispersion and fate in the environment. Participants will develop an understanding of how CWA will behave in different environmental and climatic conditions. This understanding is  fundamental for early recognition of chemical incidents while responding to a medical emergency.

Module 3: Protection methods

This module covers the protection methods available to Emergency Medical Responders while responding to an incident involving chemical agents. This module covers the various levels of PPE, their level of protection and how to choose the right PPE for the task.

Module 4: Early recognition and Initial Operational Response (IOR) 

Early recognition of a chemical incident is key to the medical responder’s safety and the commencement of effective life-saving interventions. This module covers early recognition, scene size up, commencement of Initial Operational Response and communication of the incident using the METHANE method.

Module 5: Special Operational Response (SOR) – Mass Casualty Decontamination

This module covers the Special Operational Response to a CBRN incident involving a chemical agent. It discusses methods for mass casualty decontamination based on best-practice approaches in the light of the latest research in the field. The module covers the role of the CBRN medical responder in the warmzone during technical decontamination of ambulatory and non-ambulatory victims of a chemical incident.

Module 6: Toxicology and clinical management

This module covers the toxicology of vesicants, blood agents, pulmonary agents and riot control agents with a focus on clinical management of intoxicated patients in the pre-hospital setting.

Module 7: Toxicology and clinical management 

This module covers the toxicology of nerve agents, 4th generation agents and pharmaceutically based agents with a focus on clinical management of intoxicated patients in the pre-hospital setting.

Module 8: Evidence preservation

This module discusses considerations for the integration of evidence preservation and management in the medical response to a CBRN incident. This module is born out of the instructor’s personal experience from international investigations into the alleged use of chemical weapons.