Essay On First Responders

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The most important job of a first responder is to help the victims of the attack. Before first responders can help the victims, it needs to be determined if the scene is safe to enter. Part of scene safety is identifying if a WMD was used in the attack. A WMD can contain biological, chemical, or radiological agents (Federal Emergency Management Agency Manual. 2002) that can cause a wide range of effects. Unfortunately, first responders are often unequipped with the proper personal protective equipment that is required to safely work in an area where a WMD was used. Without the proper personal protective equipment, first responders can fall victim to the effects of the agent used. First responders are also at risk of being victims of a secondary device or attack directed at first responders and other citizens who gather that the scene …show more content…

Cyber terrorism is when terrorists use electronic information technology to carry out their attack and is a relatively new form of terrorism. We use electronics in our everyday lives as they are in our computers, cars, telephones, and even refrigerators. This leaves endless potential targets and it can be catastrophic as we heavily rely on electronics. Terrorist attacks that utilize WMDs can cause health issues to the citizens. There is little research done on the health effects to the victims of WMDs (Federal Emergency Management Agency Manual 2002) and it can take years for citizens to become aware of health and medical conditions that were caused by an agent used in the attack. Even a decade after September 11th, more than 5,000 people have been diagnosed with cancer caused by exposure to carcinogens related to the attack (Ly 2016). While it was not the intent of the attack, it helps to illustrate how damaging chemical or biological agents can be years after the original

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