Weapon of mass destruction

Background

  • According to Crimes and Criminal Procedure, Title 18 United States Code (USC) § 2332a, a Weapon of Mass Destruction (WMD) is “any destructive device defined in § 921” (2006). These weapons include any explosive, incendiary, poison gas, bomb, grenade, rocket having a propellant charge of more than four ounces, missile having an explosive or incendiary charge of more than one-quarter ounce, mine, or device similar to the above. [1]
  • Children at increased risk to WMD
    • Increased respiratory rate (minute ventilation)
    • Heavier chemicals like SARIN will accumulate at a level where children are exposed to
    • Greater surface area to volume ratio
    • Small fluid reserves and higher metabolic rates
      • Dehydration
      • Increased toxicity from same exposure in an adult [2]

Classification of Agents[3]

Differential Diagnosis

Mass casualty incident

See Also

References

  1. Cornell University School of Law https://www.law.cornell.edu/uscode/text/18/2332a
  2. Schultz, C., & Koenig, K. Weapons of Mass Destruction. In Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice (9th ed.). Philadephia, PA: Elsevier/Saunders.
  3. Schultz, C., & Koenig, K. Weapons of Mass Destruction. In Rosen's Emergency Medicine: Concepts and Clinical Practice (9th ed.). Philadephia, PA: Elsevier/Saunders.