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HomeMy WebLinkAbout202.011 - Anthrax Emergencies STANDARD OPERATING PROCEDURES MANUAL TACTICAL OPERATIONS 202.011 ANTHRAX EMERGENCIES EFFECTIVE: OCTOBER 2007 Current Revision Date: 6/16/21 Next Revision Date: 6/16/23 Author’s Name/Rank: Joshua Sellers, Engineer Review Level: 1 Administrative Support: Evelyn Yin-Zepeda, Management Analyst II PURPOSE The purpose of this policy is to establish Fresno Fire Department (FFD or Department) policy, responsibility, and procedures for response to the threat of an anthrax release. APPLICATION The intent of these procedures is to provide Department members with cognizance to manage various anthrax threat scenarios and to establish the role of the Department to be in unison with other local, state, and federal response agencies. OPERATIONAL POLICY The Department has established three (3) response levels of potential threat to an anthrax release as follows: 1. Level I: Information reported to authorities indicating the release or potential release of the anthrax bacteria or spore. 2. Level II: Information reported to authorities indicating a container with a substance is found and no threat is present. 3. Level III: Information reported to authorities indicating the release or potential release of the anthrax bacteria or spore at a specific location with physical evidence present. This type of incident warrants a greater response with multiple agency involvement as indicated within this policy. Section 202.011 Page 1 of 6 OPERATIONAL GUIDELINE Level I Incident The Department will not respond to Level I incidents. A Level I incident reported to the Communications Center should warrant a Code 2 response by the Fresno Police Department. The Fresno office of the FBI will also be notified. The responding Police Officer will investigate the incident as if it were a bomb threat. If an anthrax release is suspected, the police officer may upgrade the incident to a Level II. Example: When an unidentified caller reports he / she has information anthrax has been released or is in a container at a business. Level II Incident Communications Center receives a report of a container with a substance present. A Level II incident reported to the Communications Center should warrant a Code 2 response by the first-in engine or truck Company and the Hazardous Materials Response Team (HMRT) to assess and determine if there is a threat associated with the container. If assessment indicates the container may be high risk, the HMRT should up-grade the incident to a Level III. Example: A citizen reports an unknown substance in a container. Level III Incident A Level III incident reported to the Communications Center should warrant a Code 2 response by a battalion chief, the first-in engine or truck company, HMRT and a greater level of response by the Fresno Police Department. The Fresno area FBI office and the Fresno County Environmental Health Department are also to be notified. The on-duty investigator may be special called when necessary. Example: A 9-1-1 reporting party states he / she received an envelope with a note stating the envelope contains anthrax (no visible substance is required for anthrax to be present). Note: A Code 3 response is warranted when victims are reporting signs or symptoms of exposure to any chemical OR the company officer feels the incident information indicates a more expedient response, such as a target hazard location (i.e., government building). Section 202.011 Page 2 of 6 PROCESS The responsibility for incident command rests with the law enforcement agency on scene having jurisdictional authority (Unified command should be a consideration). Department members on scene should support the incident commander (IC). 1. In the event a company officer is on scene prior to the arrival of law enforcement, he/she shall establish command. The company officer should: a. Begin isolating the immediate area (exclusion zone). b. Create a safe refuge area for victims or potential victims. c. Evacuate the room(s) containing the package, device, or substance. d. Have victims wash their hands with soap and water. e. If the company officer feels this incident has a high risk of exposure to anthrax, and only when a victim is visibly contaminated with an unknown substance, emergency decontamination may be performed. Emergency decontamination can be conducted by taking a shower and collecting the clothing. Modesty should always be afforded in these incidents. 2. The HMRT should assist the IC with the following activities when requested: a. Preservation of evidence (to include clothing). b. Create a safe refuge area. c. Determine the source(s) of origin. d. Determine if a release occurred or is suspected. e. Identification of witnesses. f. Interviewing of witnesses. Section 202.011 Page 3 of 6 g. Evidence collection of samples for the FBI. i. A field test should be conducted, and two samples taken. One (1) turned over to the FBI for testing. One (1) given to Fresno Co. Health Department for testing. h. Decontamination of victims, responders, and equipment. i. Bleach should not be used to decontaminate people. Decontamination should be accomplished by taking a shower and washing their clothing with soap and water. 3. When a law enforcement officer is not available, a fire investigator should respond and assist the HMRT with the following: a. Preservation of evidence. b. Interviewing witnesses. c. Scene documentation. d. Maintaining the chain of evidence. Incident Reports a. The first-arriving HMRT company officer is responsible for completing National Fire Incident Reporting System (NFIRS) report on anthrax incidents. i. The following information should be included in the NFIRS report: correct address, business name (if applicable), and the victim's name, phone number, and address. b. The HazMat duty officer should ensure the following information is included in HazMat 1's NFIRS Narrative report. i. Actions taken by the HMRT. ii. Investigation conducted by the HMRT. Section 202.011 Page 4 of 6 iii. Information pertaining to other agencies activities. iv. Disposition of evidence. c. The narrative screen should contain who, what, where, when, and how elements of the release or suspected release. i. Information in the narrative section should support the conclusions of the source, cause, and other coded entries. ii. Suspect information (i.e., circumstances, names, and whether adult or juvenile, should not be listed in the narrative section). iii. Reference to the Police Department case number should be included. iv. Incident call histories should be reviewed prior to completion of the NFIRS report. Much of the circumstances relating to the incident may be obtained from the call history file. v. Injuries, exposures, and deaths (either civilian or firefighter), due to an incident should be documented in the NFIRS report. The primary exposure, once confirmed, should be listed as a Hazardous Materials Incident. The primary exposure should not be listed as a medical aid. INFORMATION Anthrax is a bacterium naturally found throughout the Central Valley agricultural areas. The most common exposure to humans occurs to people working with farm animals or tanning hides. This type of exposure is generally confined to the skin and is treated with antibiotics. Exposure routes for anthrax are the same as other blood-borne pathogens. Once incubation occurs, flu-like symptoms present between 2 and 60 days after exposure. When anthrax is inhaled, the mortality rate is 80 percent to humans if treatment does not begin as early as possible. Treatment should begin when DNA testing of samples taken from the scene is confirmed to be anthrax. Section 202.011 Page 5 of 6 In order to be exposed by inhalation or ingestion, the bacteria must be converted to a spore. To be effective as a weapon of mass destruction (WMD) the spore must become airborne before inhalation can occur. This is the most difficult aspect of using anthrax as a WMD. The anthrax spore has the characteristic of falling out of the air quickly, at which time it no longer continues to be an inhalation hazard. When terrorist groups use anthrax, they may have the ability to reduce the size of the spore (synthetic) allowing it to remain airborne longer than anthrax developed naturally. The weather also has an effect on its ability to remain airborne. DEFINITIONS This section intentionally left blank. CROSS-REFERENCES Standard Operating Procedures Section 202.008, Hazardous Materials Response Plan Section 202.008b, Mass Decontamination Guidelines Section 204.003, Dispatching Hazardous Materials Section 202.011 Page 6 of 6