New Mexico

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New Mexico CHEMPACK Training Program Introduction
Overview
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• What is the CHEMPACK Program?
• When are CHEMPACK assets needed?
• Who is involved in the CHEMPACK Program?

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What is the CHEMPACK program?
Allow rapid response to nerve agent incidents
Increase state local capacity
Pre-position nerve agent antidotes
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• Why the CHEMPACK Program?
• Nerve agents can cause rapid system failure
• Antidotes can reverse symptoms when administered
  in a timely manner
• Most hospitals pharmacies dont stockpile nerve
  agent antidotes
• CHEMPACK antidotes are packaged to be rapidly
  administered

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New Mexico Allocations

• New Mexico has 12 CHEMPACK containers
  strategically located throughout the state.

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• What Are Nerve Agents?
• One of several categories of potentially harmful
  chemicals
• Can be inhaled, swallowed, or absorbed through
  the skin
• Attack the nervous system
• Can result in severe injury or death

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• What Are Nerve Agents?

• Organophosphate
• Pesticide
• Parathion
• Malathion
• Chlorpyrifos
• Diazinon

• Chemical Weapons
• Sarin
• Tabun
• Soman
• Cyclosarin
• VX

Pesticide
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Nerve Agent Incidents Intentional Release
Agricultural Of A Nerve Agent
Accident
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• What Is A Nerve Agent Incident?
• A nerve agent incident is the intentional release
  of nerve agents.
• The release of Sarin gas on a Tokyo subway
  in 1995 is an example of a nerve agent
  release.
• This incident resulted in over 1,000 persons
  becoming ill and 12 dying from the exposure.

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The use of mustard gas as a chemical weapon
during World War II was not a nerve agent
incident. Mustard gas is a blister agent, not a
nerve agent.
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The accidental poisoning of 35 California farm
workers with organophosphate pesticides in 1989
was a nerve agent incident. Organophosphate
pesticides are nerve agents chemicals that
attack the central nervous system.
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The 2001 anthrax attacks, where letters
containing anthrax spores killed 5 people and
infected 17 others were not nerve agent
incidents. Anthrax is a biological agent not a
nerve agent.
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What Is A CHEMPACK?

• CHEMPACK is a secure container of nerve agent
  antidotes.

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Nerve Agent Antidotes

• The 3 drugs included in CHEMPACK containers can
  reverse the effects of nerve agent exposure.
• Atropine Sulfate
• Pralidoxime (2PAM)
• Diazepam

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When Is CHEMPACK Needed?

• CHEMPACK should be deployed if there has been
  a suspected nerve agent incident that will
• Put multiple lives at risk
• Threaten the health of the community
• Potentially overwhelm local supplies of antidotes

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• Signs Symptoms Of Nerve Agent Exposure

S - Salivation (excessive drooling) L -
Lacrimation (tearing) U - Urination D -
Defecation/Diarrhea G - Gastrointestinal E -
Emesis (vomiting) M - Miosis (pinpoint
pupils) R - Respiratory (distress) A -
Agitation (CNS symptoms)
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CHEMPACK Management Oversight

• CDC
• New Mexico Department Of Health
• Host Hospitals

CDC owns and centrally manages CHEMPACK assets.
Periodic inspections are conducted.
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CHEMPACK Management Oversight

• CDC
• New Mexico Department
• of Health
• Host Hospital

• NMDOH oversees
• receipt, maintenance monitoring of
  CHEMPACK. Serves as liaison to CDC.

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CHEMPACK Management Oversight

• CDC
• New Mexico Department of Health
• Host Hospitals

The Host Hospitals ensure the proper storage and
security of CHEMPACK assets.
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Who Is Involved In The CHEMPACK Program?

• Fire Emergency Medical Services
• Law Enforcement
• Dispatch
• HazMat
• Hospitals
• Public Health

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The Role of Fire EMS In CHEMPACK

• Fire EMS establish Incident Command and
  determine of CHEMPACK assets are needed
• EMS may transport CHEMPACK assets
• Administer antidotes to persons affected in the
  field

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The Role Of Law Enforcement In CHEMPACK

• Local police are often the first responders on
  scene
• Provide on scene security
• May transport CHEMPACK assets
• Hospital security

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The Role Of Dispatch In CHEMPACK

• Receive requests for CHEMPACK assets from
  Incident Commander
• Notifies host hospital to mobilize CHEMPACK
  assets to the field and nearby hospitals
• Coordinate transport of assets, requests for
  scene/hospital security

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The Role Of Hospitals In CHEMPACK

• Host hospitals prepare CHEMPACK assets for
  transfer to the field and/or other hospitals
• Hospital personnel recognize potential nerve
  agent exposure in incoming patients
• Health care providers administer antidotes

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The Role Of Public Health In CHEMPACK

• Assist with risk communication, mental
  health/social services, demobilization activities
• Involved in epidemiologic investigation
• NOT involved in the request, receipt, or
  administration of CHEMPACK assets.

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Review

• What is the CHEMPACK Program?
• When are CHEMPACK assets needed?
• Who is involved in the CHEMPACK Program?

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Questions
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Thank You For Attending !!!