Chemical Weapons

Description

This course will review the various chemicals that are used as weapons and the health effects associated with certain chemical agents. This course will also cover the treatment options and identify sources of chemical agent information. This course has been designed to be self-directed and should not take more than two hours to complete. There will be a pre- and post-assessment to evaluate your level of knowledge before and after reviewing this online course. The questions are not designed to be difficult; they are simply an indication of progress and are used to ensure the information is understood before granting a certificate of completion.

Learning Objectives

After completing this course, you should be able to:

• Define chemical weapons
• Describe the characteristics of chemical weapons
• List the categories of chemical warfare agents
• Describe the health effects of the following CWAs
  • Blister Agents/Vesicants
  • Blood Agents
  • Choking/Lung/Pulmonary Agents
  • Nerve Agents
  • Incapacitating Agents
  • Biotoxins
• Understand the effect/mode of toxicity of each CWA
• Review the symptoms of each CWA
• Describe the treatment options of each CWA
• List additional resources with information about chemical weapons

Intended Audience

Public health practitioners who want to be prepared for a chemical weapon attack or accidental release. No prior knowledge is necessary.