Here is a continuation of notes from my CERT training discussing terrorism and what we as CERT do about it or rather not do about it. The following notes are from the CERT book. Any inaccuracies are the fault of the note taker.

One of the reasons I’m transferring the book into blogs, is I want to concentrate the material into a smaller space so I can then print them out and have them available to block captains for use in case of emergency.

Terrorist weapons:

There are five categories of possible terrorist weapons. The acronym CBRNE can be used to help you remember.

• Chemical
• Biological
• Radiological
• Nuclear
• high – yield explosives

• These CBRNE may occur accidentally such as a truck accident or naturally such as paramedic influenza.

• Another type of terrorism is deliberate, large-scale disruption of computer networks. This is known as Siebel terrorism. To protect against cyber terrorism is important that computers users use appropriate security measures.

Chemical weapons:

Unlike biological agents or nuclear materials, which are hard to produce, the ingredients for chemical weapons are found in common products and petrochemicals.

Blister agents: cause blisters, burns and other tissue damage. Exposure may be made to liquid or vapor contact with any exposure to our skin, inhalation, or ingestion. Blister agents include several families of chemicals, including mustard and lewisite. The effects of blister agents may be similar to those experienced by riot control agents like teargas but do not clear upon movement into fresh air. The effects of most blister agents increase with time and may reach full impact for 12 to 18 hours.

Blood agents: are absorbed into the bloodstream and deprive blood cells of oxygen. Exposure may be made through liquid or vapor contact with any exposed skin, inhalation or ingestion. Blood agents include two main families of chemicals, including hydrogen cyanide and cyanogen chloride. Those who are affected by blood agents may appear “wish” across the nose and cheeks and around the mouth. As symptoms of blood agents’ progress, the victim may convulse and lose consciousness.

Choking agents: attack the lungs. Following exposure through inhalation, the lungs fill with fluid, which prevents oxygen from being absorbed by, and carbon dioxide from being removed from, the blood. Death results for lack of oxygen and a similar to drowning. To con example of choking agents are phosgene and chlorine.

Nerve agents: affect the central nervous system. These agents act most quickly and are the most lethal of all chemical agents, acting within seconds of exposure. Victims of nerve agents experience constricted pupils, runny nose, shortness of breath, convulsions, and cessation of breathing. Sarah and is an example of a nerve agent.

Riot – control agents: cause respiratory distress and tearing and are designed to incapacitate rather than kill. Riot – control agents cause intense pain, especially when it can contact with mucous membranes such areas as eyes, nose, and mouth. And riot control agents include “tear” gas and capsicum, (also called pepper spray)

The onset of symptoms that result from chemical weapons can race for immediate to 18 hours following exposure. Chemical weapons are considered a moderate risk.

More notes coming next week.