EMT Lesson Plans

Chapter 39: Terrorism Response and Disaster Management

National EMS Education Standard Competencies

EMS Operations Knowledge of operational roles and responsibilities to ensure patient, public, and personnel safety.

Mass-Casualty Incidents Due to Terrorism and Disaster

 Risks and responsibilities of operating on the scene of a natural or man-made disaster. (p 1427–1448)

Knowledge Objectives 1. Define the terms international terrorism and domestic terrorism and provide some examples of incidents that have been caused by each one. (pp 1427–1428) 2. Provide examples of four different types of goals that commonly motivate terrorist groups to stage a terrorist attack. (pp 1427–1428) 3. Define the terms weapon of mass destruction (WMD) and weapon of mass casualty (WMC), and list and give examples of the five categories of weapons that are considered WMDs. (pp 1428–1429) 4. Discuss the history of chemical agents, their four main classifications, routes of exposure, effects on the patient, and patient care. (pp 1429, 1432–1438) 5. Discuss three categories of biologic agents, their routes of exposure, effects on the patient, and patient care. (pp 1429, 1439–1444) 6. Describe the history of nuclear/radiologic devices, sources of radiologic materials and dispersal devices, medical management of the patient, and protective measures that can be taken by the EMT during a nuclear/radiologic incident. (pp 1429, 1445–1447) 7. Describe how the Department of Homeland Security (DHS) Homeland Security Advisory System relates to the daily activities of EMTs and their ability to respond to and survive a terrorist attack. (pp 1429–1430) 8. Describe key observations an EMT must make on each call to assist in the determination of whether an incident is related to terrorism. (pp 1429–1432) 9. Explain the colors and threat levels that are used by the DHS daily to heighten awareness of the current terrorist threat. (p 1430) 10. Describe the critical response actions related to establishing and reassessing scene safety, personnel protection, notification procedures, and establishing command an EMT must perform at a suspected terrorist event. (pp 1430–1432) 11. Explain the role of EMS in relation to syndromic surveillance and points of distribution (PODS) during a biologic event. (pp 1444–1445) 12. Describe the mechanisms of injury caused by incendiary and explosive devices, including the types of wounds and their severity. (pp 1447–1448)