Overview

The Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism course is a Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA)-approved awareness-level training course addressing the medical and psychological impact of industrial chemicals used as terrorist weapons. Since 2005, ACMT has offered this course over 100 times to more than 10,000 attendees throughout the US and internationally. 

Target Audience

1-Day Course Designed for:

• Pre-Hospital First Responders (EMTs and Paramedics)
• Public Health Professionals
• Law Enforcement 
• Emergency Providers

This 10-module course will utilize a symptom-based clinical approach to describe the medical impact of various chemical poisons. It will provide a framework to enhance recognition of the common health effects of apparently disparate chemical toxins, describe the risk to various healthcare workers, and introduce clinical and public health management strategies. 

Course Objectives:

• Understand the concept of chemical and radiological agents of opportunity (AoO) – TICs, TIMs and TRMs
• Identify possible terrorist use of AoO
• Discuss past mass exposure to AoO
• Describe the major health effects of TICs, TIMs and TRMs and other important non-volatile chemical agents
• Identify primary treatment modalities for victims
• Appreciate the basis for increased public health preparedness for these agents
• Understand the psychological impact of mass casualties from such exposures
• Understand the implementation of “first receiver” OSHA guidance

Continuing Education: Interprofessional continuing education credits are available for this course through the CDC.

Agenda | June 14, 2023

8:50 AM - 9:00 AM CT          Welcome & Opening Remarks
                                                Paul Wax, MD, FACMT
                                                Executive Director, American College of Medical Toxicology

9:00 AM - 9:40 AM CT          Toxic Disasters: Beyond Conventional Chemical Weapons
                                                Charles McKay, MD, FACMT
                                                Associate Medical Director, Connecticut Poison Control Center

9:40 AM - 10:00 AM CT        Chemical Explosions
                                                 Ziad Kazzi, MD, FAAEM, FACEP, FACMT, FAACT
                                                 Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine
                                                 Vice President, American College of Medical Toxicology

10:00 AM - 10:40 AM CT      Toxic Gases as Threats
                                                 Emily Kiernan, DO
                                                 Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology
                                                 Emory University School of Medicine

10:40 AM - 10:50 AM CT      Break

10:50 AM - 11:30 AM CT      Why are Cyanide and Fumigants So Worrisome?
                                                 Emily Kiernan, DO
                                                 Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology
                                                 Emory University School of Medicine

11:30 AM - 12:10 PM CT      Food, Water and Medication as Vehicles for Toxic Threats
                                                 Ziad Kazzi, MD, FAAEM, FACEP, FACMT, FAACT
                                                 Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine
                                                 Vice President, American College of Medical Toxicology

12:10 PM - 1:00 PM CT        Clinical Neurotoxicology of Chemical Threats
                                                 Paul Wax, MD, FACMT
                                                 Executive Director, American College of Medical Toxicology

1:00 PM - 1:30 PM CT         Lunch

1:30 PM - 2:10 PM CT         Delayed Toxic Syndromes
                                               Bryan Wilson, MD
                                               Interim Medical Director, Iowa Poison Control Center 
                                               Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics

2:10 PM - 2:50 PM CT         The Psychological Impact of Mass Exposures
                                                Paul Wax, MD, FACMT
                                                Executive Director, American College of Medical Toxicology

2:50 PM - 3:00 PM CT         Break

3:00 PM - 3:40 PM CT         After Event Population Monitoring: Pros and Cons
                                               Charles McKay, MD, FACMT
                                               Associate Medical Director, Connecticut Poison Control Center

3:40 PM - 4:40 PM CT         Scenario-Based Discussion: What is the Poison? What is the Response? Ay, There's the Rub.
                                               Charles McKay, MD, FACMT
                                               Associate Medical Director, Connecticut Poison Control Center

                                               Paul Wax, MD, FACMT
                                               Executive Director, American College of Medical Toxicology

                                                Ziad Kazzi, MD, FAAEM, FACEP, FACMT, FAACT
                                                Professor, Department of Emergency Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine
                                                Vice President, American College of Medical Toxicology

                                                Emily Kiernan, DO
                                                Assistant Professor, Emergency Medicine and Medical Toxicology
                                                Emory University School of Medicine

                                                Bryan Wilson, MD
                                                Interim Medical Director, Iowa Poison Control Center 
                                                Clinical Assistant Professor, University of Iowa Hospitals & Clinics

4:40 PM - 4:50 PM CT         Closing Remarks/Adjourn
                                                Charles McKay, MD, FACMT                                                 
                                                Associate Medical Director, Connecticut Poison Control Center

                                                Paul Wax, MD, FACMT
                                                Executive Director, American College of Medical Toxicology

Registration Rates

Registration will include: 

• Access to the live event
• Access to the on-demand recording for 1-year
• Continuing Education (provided at no cost through CDC via TCEO)
• Downloadable Attendance Certificate

Please note that for proprietary reasons, PDFs of the presentation slides will not be available for download. You will have access to an on-demand recording of the course for one year from the event date.

Interested in becoming an ACMT Member? Contact our Membership Manager, Jenn Dorsey, at membership@acmt.net. Learn more at: www.acmt.net/membership

Continuing Education

Available CE Categories

CME: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designates this live activity for a maximum of 7.75 AMA PRA Category 1 Credits™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

CNE: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designates this activity for 7.75 nursing contact hours.

CPE: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention designated this knowledge-based event for pharmacists to receive 0.7 CEUs in pharmacy education. The Universal Activity Number is pending and will be provided closer to the event date. Once credit is claimed, an unofficial statement of credit is immediately available on TCEOnline. Official credit will be uploaded within 60 days on the NABP/CPE Monitor.

IACET CEU: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is authorized by IACET to offer 0.9 CEU's for this program.

CECH: Sponsored by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. This program is designed for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES®) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES®) to receive up to 5.5 total Category I continuing education contact hours. Maximum advanced level continuing education contact hours available are 5.5. Continuing Competency credits available are 0. CDC provider number 98614.

AAVSB/RACE: This program was reviewed and approved by AAVSB RACE program for 6.0 hours of continuing education. Participants should be aware that some boards have limitations on the number of hours accepted in certain categories and/or restrictions on certain methods of delivery of continuing education. Please contact the AAVSB RACE program if you have any comments/concerns regarding this program’s validity or relevancy to the veterinary profession.

Instructions for Obtaining CE

There are no fees for receiving Continuing Education for this course. In order to receive continuing education (CE), please visit TCEO (https://tceols.cdc.gov/) and follow the 9 Simple Steps (https://tceols.cdc.gov/Home/Steps) using the below information:

Chemical Agents of Opportunity for Terrorism
WC4383-061423
Live Webcast
Course Access Code: acmt2
Complete the Evaluation at: www.cdc.gov/GetCE
Pass the posttest at: 70%
Available: 6/14/23 - 7/17/2023, 11:59 PM (ET)

Hardware/Software Requirements

Computer or Other Internet-Enabled Device; Internet Connection; Browser or Zoom Application. 

Materials

None. 

Prerequisites

None. 

Format

This activity is Web-based/Web on Demand.

Fees

No fees are charged for CDC’s CE activities.

Accreditation Statement

In support of improving patient care, this activity has been planned and implemented by Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, American College of Medical Toxicology (ACMT), and Radiation Emergency Assistance Center/Training Site (REAC/TS). The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.