Cassady Reidy Professor Hantzis Abnormal Psychology April 23rd, 2019
People who fall victim to nerve agents that have the use of acting as chemical weapons, such as tabun, VX, sarin, cyclohexyl sarin, soman, need to seek immediate treatment. An effective medication to help combat the effects of nerve agents is atropine sulfate. This treatment allows people to “breathe by drying secretions and opening their airways” which causes for the victim to have more control over their breathing (Arnold). Atropine sulfate can aid in help by blocking “other effects of poisoning, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, low heart rate, and sweating” (Arnold). Atropine is given to victims by either IV or injection. Pralidoxime chloride, a different medication that treat people exposed to nerve agents, can be given along with atropine sulfate. Atropine sulfate “does not prevent or reverse paralysis” in victims (Arnold). If the victim is given “adequate decontamination and appropriate initial therapy”, then the “signs and symptoms of nerve agent toxicity rarely last more than a couple of hours” (Arnold). The prognosis (also referred to as post treatment) for atropine sulfate is excellent. Victims with symptoms experience “peak toxic effects [that] occur within minutes to hours and go away within 1 day” (Arnold). If the victim shows no symptoms after being exposed to nerve agents will be “observed for at least 18 hours because some signs and symptoms can show up later” (Arnold).
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For victims who have been skin exposed to mustard gas (which is a blistering agent), the best route to go is to immediately decontaminate. This needs to happen within 2 minutes, since the weapon “rapidly becomes fixed to tissues, and its effects are irreversible” (Arnold). A victim who has been exposed and shows no symptoms still needs to be decontaminated urgently.The victim needs to “remove clothing immediately and wash the skin with soap and water”, as this will help to clear away the mustard gas on the skin (Arnold). If the eyes were exposed during the incident, then the eyes “require immediate washing out with a large amount of saline or water”, to aid in getting rid of gas in the eyeballs (Arnold). The most important fact to remember is that decontamination “does not prevent further damage later”, but is still absolutely necessary because the process helps to protect “emergency care personnel from further contact exposure” (Arnold). The treatment for mustard gas exposure depends on person to person, as it is based of the symptoms that are being shown. If the victim is showing symptoms and signs of not being able to breathe, then the doctors “may treat by using a tube in the person’s throat or perform surgery to open the airway” (Arnold). People who experience burns tend to express being in intense pain from the injury. In these cases, “doctors will use strong pain relievers” to help with the symptoms (Arnold). Taking care of the burn is extremely essential, as “skin lesions heal slowly and are prone to infection” (Arnold). If the burn is severe enough, then the doctor will “require removal of dead tissue, irrigation, and placement of antibiotics” (Arnold). An example of an antibiotic used for mustard gas burns is silver sulfadiazine. This antibiotic needs to be applied onto the burned skin. The victim might have a severe eye burn resulting from exposure, and in these cases need to wash the eyes everyday. Along with daily eye washing, “topical antibiotic solutions, topical corticosteroids, and drugs that dilate the pupil” are used (Arnold).
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The injury, if severe enough, will take about two to three months to fully heal. Blindness rarely occurs in mustard gas eye injuries. Victims who experience bone marrow suppression need to be “treated with medication to stimulate the bone marrow” (Arnold). An example of a medication used is a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. The prognosis for mustard gas exposure is different case by case. People who have “significant respiratory tract burns usually require admission to the hospital’s intensive care unit” (Arnold). Victims who face skin burns resulting from exposure will need to go to the burn unit of the hospital for treatment. If significant exposure has occurred for the victim, then their “blood cell counts will be monitored for 2 weeks” (Arnold). Typically, people who fell victim to mustard gas will recover completely from the incident. Few people will suffer from lung or long-term eye damage. It is important to note that mustard gas “is known to cause cancer, yet a single exposure causes only a small risk” (Arnold).
If the victim is being exposed to a choking agent (such as phosgene), the first step of treatment is to move to a higher area. The person needs to “climb to the top floor of a building” (Choking Agent Poisoning - What You Need to Know). This is because of the fact that “phosgene is heavier than air and will settle in low-lying areas” (Choking Agent Poisoning - What You Need to Know). Another way to help further exposure to others is to “turn off the heat or air conditioning”, as this will stop the choking agent from circulation in the air (Choking Agent Poisoning - What You Need to Know). The victim will need to remove their clothing as soon as possible. The person needs to either “cut it or rip it off to prevent getting choking agent in your eyes, nose, or breathing it in” (Choking Agent Poisoning - What You Need to Know). If the victim wears contact lenses, remove them as well. Take all the removed clothing and contact
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lenses and put them in a sealable bag. When the person is able to “ask [the] healthcare provider if and how [to] dispose of the bag” (Choking Agent Poisoning - What You Need to Know). The next step is having the victim wash off their entire body. The victim needs to “take a shower as soon as possible” (Choking Agent Poisoning - What You Need to Know). While the victim washes off in the shower, they need to remember not to scrub the skin or hair, “because this may cause more nerve gas to be absorbed into [the] skin” (Choking Agent Poisoning - What You Need to Know). People who have had the choking agent exposed in their eyes should “run water into [the] eyes for 10 to 15 minutes” (Choking Agent Poisoning - What You Need to Know). One of the most essential pieces of information for the victim to know is to not induce vomiting if they swallowed the choking agent. They should also remember to “not drink more liquids” (Choking Agent Poisoning - What You Need to Know).
In July 2004, research based on the idea of psychological effects of chemical weapons on victims took place. The study involved “153 civilians in three towns bordering Iran and Iraq” led by “researchers in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Yale School of Medicine, the Department of Psychiatry and the VA Connecticut Healthcare System” (Yale University). The team was led by Farnoosh Hashemian. All of the towns were involved in the Iran-Iraq war and faced difficulties from the conflict. The study lasted for two months in Iran and “one town was exposed to conventional low-intensity warfare, another was exposed to high-intensity warfare and the third, Sardasht, was exposed to both high-intensity warfare and chemical warfare” (Yale University). The method the team used was 90 minute interviews with people that lived in the towns during the war and they “measured post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression” (Yale University). The results from the study were astounding
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and provided for a breakthrough on the effects on the brain from war. Sardasht, the town who was exposed to both chemical weapons and high-intensity warfare, had an extremely high amount of mental disorders than people from the other two towns. Fifty-nine percent were discovered of having PTSD at some point in their lives. Other results included the fact that “thirty-three percent were currently suffering from PTSD, 65 percent reported major anxiety symptoms and 41 perfect had severe depressive symptoms” (Yale University). For the town that experienced high intensity warfare, mental illness was common as well. For example, the study reported that “thirty-one percent had lifetime PTSD, eight percent had current PTSD, 25 percent had major anxiety symptoms and 12 percent had severe depressive symptoms” (Yale University). After the study was conducted and the results were released to the public, Hashemian said “Survivors of chemical warfare need access to a variety of resources to recover from the trauma that happened 17 years ago. We hope this study raises awareness about the horrifying effects of the use of chemical weaponry and demonstrates the urgent need for a stronger international commitment to destruction of such weapons” (Yale University).
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Citations
Arnold, Jeffrey L. “Chemical Warfare Types, Risks & Treatment.” EMedicineHealth, 11 Jan. 2019, www.emedicinehealth.com/chemical_warfare/article_em.htm#nerve_agents_as_chemical_weap ons.
“Choking Agent Poisoning - What You Need to Know.” Drugs.com, www.drugs.com/cg/choking-agent-poisoning.html.
Yale University. “Chemical Warfare Ravages Mental Health Of Iranian Civilians.” ScienceDaily, ScienceDaily, 1 Aug. 2006, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/08/060801230513.htm.
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People who fall victim to nerve agents that have the use of acting as chemical weapons, such as tabun, VX, sarin, cyclohexyl sarin, soman, need to seek immediate treatment. An effective medication to help combat the effects of nerve agents is atropine sulfate. This treatment allows people to “breathe by drying secretions and opening their airways” which causes for the victim to have more control over their breathing (Arnold). Atropine sulfate can aid in help by blocking “other effects of poisoning, such as nausea, vomiting, abdominal cramping, low heart rate, and sweating” (Arnold). Atropine is given to victims by either IV or injection. Pralidoxime chloride, a different medication that treat people exposed to nerve agents, can be given along with atropine sulfate. Atropine sulfate “does not prevent or reverse paralysis” in victims (Arnold). If the victim is given “adequate decontamination and appropriate initial therapy”, then the “signs and symptoms of nerve agent toxicity rarely last more than a couple of hours” (Arnold). The prognosis (also referred to as post treatment) for atropine sulfate is excellent. Victims with symptoms experience “peak toxic effects [that] occur within minutes to hours and go away within 1 day” (Arnold). If the victim shows no symptoms after being exposed to nerve agents will be “observed for at least 18 hours because some signs and symptoms can show up later” (Arnold).
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For victims who have been skin exposed to mustard gas (which is a blistering agent), the best route to go is to immediately decontaminate. This needs to happen within 2 minutes, since the weapon “rapidly becomes fixed to tissues, and its effects are irreversible” (Arnold). A victim who has been exposed and shows no symptoms still needs to be decontaminated urgently.The victim needs to “remove clothing immediately and wash the skin with soap and water”, as this will help to clear away the mustard gas on the skin (Arnold). If the eyes were exposed during the incident, then the eyes “require immediate washing out with a large amount of saline or water”, to aid in getting rid of gas in the eyeballs (Arnold). The most important fact to remember is that decontamination “does not prevent further damage later”, but is still absolutely necessary because the process helps to protect “emergency care personnel from further contact exposure” (Arnold). The treatment for mustard gas exposure depends on person to person, as it is based of the symptoms that are being shown. If the victim is showing symptoms and signs of not being able to breathe, then the doctors “may treat by using a tube in the person’s throat or perform surgery to open the airway” (Arnold). People who experience burns tend to express being in intense pain from the injury. In these cases, “doctors will use strong pain relievers” to help with the symptoms (Arnold). Taking care of the burn is extremely essential, as “skin lesions heal slowly and are prone to infection” (Arnold). If the burn is severe enough, then the doctor will “require removal of dead tissue, irrigation, and placement of antibiotics” (Arnold). An example of an antibiotic used for mustard gas burns is silver sulfadiazine. This antibiotic needs to be applied onto the burned skin. The victim might have a severe eye burn resulting from exposure, and in these cases need to wash the eyes everyday. Along with daily eye washing, “topical antibiotic solutions, topical corticosteroids, and drugs that dilate the pupil” are used (Arnold).
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The injury, if severe enough, will take about two to three months to fully heal. Blindness rarely occurs in mustard gas eye injuries. Victims who experience bone marrow suppression need to be “treated with medication to stimulate the bone marrow” (Arnold). An example of a medication used is a granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. The prognosis for mustard gas exposure is different case by case. People who have “significant respiratory tract burns usually require admission to the hospital’s intensive care unit” (Arnold). Victims who face skin burns resulting from exposure will need to go to the burn unit of the hospital for treatment. If significant exposure has occurred for the victim, then their “blood cell counts will be monitored for 2 weeks” (Arnold). Typically, people who fell victim to mustard gas will recover completely from the incident. Few people will suffer from lung or long-term eye damage. It is important to note that mustard gas “is known to cause cancer, yet a single exposure causes only a small risk” (Arnold).
If the victim is being exposed to a choking agent (such as phosgene), the first step of treatment is to move to a higher area. The person needs to “climb to the top floor of a building” (Choking Agent Poisoning - What You Need to Know). This is because of the fact that “phosgene is heavier than air and will settle in low-lying areas” (Choking Agent Poisoning - What You Need to Know). Another way to help further exposure to others is to “turn off the heat or air conditioning”, as this will stop the choking agent from circulation in the air (Choking Agent Poisoning - What You Need to Know). The victim will need to remove their clothing as soon as possible. The person needs to either “cut it or rip it off to prevent getting choking agent in your eyes, nose, or breathing it in” (Choking Agent Poisoning - What You Need to Know). If the victim wears contact lenses, remove them as well. Take all the removed clothing and contact
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lenses and put them in a sealable bag. When the person is able to “ask [the] healthcare provider if and how [to] dispose of the bag” (Choking Agent Poisoning - What You Need to Know). The next step is having the victim wash off their entire body. The victim needs to “take a shower as soon as possible” (Choking Agent Poisoning - What You Need to Know). While the victim washes off in the shower, they need to remember not to scrub the skin or hair, “because this may cause more nerve gas to be absorbed into [the] skin” (Choking Agent Poisoning - What You Need to Know). People who have had the choking agent exposed in their eyes should “run water into [the] eyes for 10 to 15 minutes” (Choking Agent Poisoning - What You Need to Know). One of the most essential pieces of information for the victim to know is to not induce vomiting if they swallowed the choking agent. They should also remember to “not drink more liquids” (Choking Agent Poisoning - What You Need to Know).
In July 2004, research based on the idea of psychological effects of chemical weapons on victims took place. The study involved “153 civilians in three towns bordering Iran and Iraq” led by “researchers in the Department of Epidemiology and Public Health at Yale School of Medicine, the Department of Psychiatry and the VA Connecticut Healthcare System” (Yale University). The team was led by Farnoosh Hashemian. All of the towns were involved in the Iran-Iraq war and faced difficulties from the conflict. The study lasted for two months in Iran and “one town was exposed to conventional low-intensity warfare, another was exposed to high-intensity warfare and the third, Sardasht, was exposed to both high-intensity warfare and chemical warfare” (Yale University). The method the team used was 90 minute interviews with people that lived in the towns during the war and they “measured post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), anxiety and depression” (Yale University). The results from the study were astounding
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and provided for a breakthrough on the effects on the brain from war. Sardasht, the town who was exposed to both chemical weapons and high-intensity warfare, had an extremely high amount of mental disorders than people from the other two towns. Fifty-nine percent were discovered of having PTSD at some point in their lives. Other results included the fact that “thirty-three percent were currently suffering from PTSD, 65 percent reported major anxiety symptoms and 41 perfect had severe depressive symptoms” (Yale University). For the town that experienced high intensity warfare, mental illness was common as well. For example, the study reported that “thirty-one percent had lifetime PTSD, eight percent had current PTSD, 25 percent had major anxiety symptoms and 12 percent had severe depressive symptoms” (Yale University). After the study was conducted and the results were released to the public, Hashemian said “Survivors of chemical warfare need access to a variety of resources to recover from the trauma that happened 17 years ago. We hope this study raises awareness about the horrifying effects of the use of chemical weaponry and demonstrates the urgent need for a stronger international commitment to destruction of such weapons” (Yale University).
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Citations
Arnold, Jeffrey L. “Chemical Warfare Types, Risks & Treatment.” EMedicineHealth, 11 Jan. 2019, www.emedicinehealth.com/chemical_warfare/article_em.htm#nerve_agents_as_chemical_weap ons.
“Choking Agent Poisoning - What You Need to Know.” Drugs.com, www.drugs.com/cg/choking-agent-poisoning.html.
Yale University. “Chemical Warfare Ravages Mental Health Of Iranian Civilians.” ScienceDaily, ScienceDaily, 1 Aug. 2006, www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2006/08/060801230513.htm.
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