ABSTRACT
Recently, the perceived risk of a deliberate release of a chemical, biological or radioactive (CBR) agent has increased in terms of use by state and non-state actors: for assassination, terrorism and group conflict. As such, it is increasingly important to recognize a deliberate release event, identify the symptoms and signs in casualties, diagnose and provide appropriate medical countermeasures. Alongside casualty management and healthcare, emergency response to an event environmental and bioanalytical samples can be used to understand immediate and ongoing requirements for medical countermeasures, PPE and environmental recovery necessities (e.g. decontamination). This Chapter provides information on the features of common chemical, biological and radiologic threats and includes the characteristics of dispersal/spread, identification of clinical syndromes/toxidromes and how casualty decontamination can be accomplished in conjunction with personal protection so responders do not become casualties themselves.
