Initial clinical management of patients exposed to chemical weapons: interim guidance document

Overview

This interim guidance is aimed at healthcare workers who may receive patients exposed to chemical weapons at their healthcare facilities.

The guidance follows the case management flowchart on the next page.

It provides questions to guide the identification of contaminated patients, recommendations on personal protection, procedures for decontamination, guidance for triage and identification of categories of exposure, and treatment regimens for individual chemicals.

Users should study the contents of this document carefully and apply the principles and framework to their own situation and health care facilities. Clinical work in this field should be accompanied with complete and practical training.