PURPOSE AND TARGET AUDIENCE
This course begins with an historical overview of the major groups of chemical agents considered to be terrorist threats, including of the nerve agents, vesicants, cyanide, pulmonary intoxicants, ammonia, and riot control agents.

There is also a synopsis of the toxicological properties of these agents, the reported human effects of use of each agent during mass exposure. There are three main objectives of the course, which are to describe the types of chemical warfare agents, recognize signs and symptoms of exposure, and describe how to manage, decontaminate, and treat the victims of a chemical agent attack. This course is designed for all healthcare professionals.


CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDIT
Physician Credit - University of Louisville Continuing Health Sciences Education designates this educational activity for a maximum of 1.5 hours of Category 1 credit toward the AMA Physician's Recognition Award. Each physician should claim only those hours of credit that he/she actually spent in the educational activity.

Nursing Credit - This program has been approved by the Kentucky Board of Nursing for 1.8 contact hours through the University of Louisville School of Nursing, provider number 3-0046-01-2013-09, expiration date January 31, 2013. The Kentucky Board of Nursing approval of an individual nursing education provider does not constitute endorsement of program content. Participants must complete entire session, provide license and social security number and complete evaluation to receive contact hours.


INSTRUCTIONS & REGISTRATION
The course is free and takes approximately 1.5 hours. During the course you will watch and listen to a video lecture and view a handout. After reviewing the materials, you will take an online test and receive your results instantly.

If you pass, you will be taken to a web page confirming your continuing education credit, which you will need to print for your records. If you do not pass, you may retake the course as many times as necessary.
To Register For Your Course, Click Here


FACULTY
Course Director and Lecturer, Online Course:
Michael Dobbs, MD
Former Position (at the time lecture was given):
Assistant Professor,
Dept. of Neurology
School of Medicine
University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky

Current Position (as of 10/11/07):
Assistant Professor of Neurology
Residency Program Director
Dept. of Neurology
College Of Medicine
University of Kentucky
Lexington, Kentucky

Course Director, Original Live Course From Which Online Course Was Developed:
Ronald M. Atlas
Graduate Dean
Professor of Biology
Co-director of the Center for the UofL Deterrence of Biowarfare and Bioterrorism University of Louisville
Louisville, Kentucky


LEARNING OBJECTIVES

• Describe the types of chemical warfare agents
  
  
• Recognize signs and symptoms of exposure to chemical warfare agents
  
  
• Understand how to manage, decontaminate and treat the victims of a chemical agent attack
  

HARDWARE & SOFTWARE REQUIREMENTS
In order to take this course, you must have a PC that runs Windows XP and has at least 500 MB of RAM. You must have a broadband internet connection or better; the course will not work with a dialup internet connection. You must also have the following programs installed: Internet Explorer 6.0 or higher, Windows Media Player 10.0 or higher and Adobe Acrobat Reader 7.0 or higher.


COMMERCIAL SUPPORT
No commercial support was received for this program.


DISCLOSURES
Dr. Dobbs and Dr. Atlas have no disclosures.


ORIGINAL RELEASE/TERMINATION DATES
Course Originally Released On: 09/12/06
Date of Most Recent Review: 09/12/06
Course Termination Date: 09/12/09


ACCREDITATION
The University of Louisville School of Medicine is accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME) to provide continuing medical education for physicians.


TECHNICAL SUPPORT/QUESTIONS
If you need technical support or have questions about the course, please e-mail us at chse@louisville.edu or call us at 502-852-5329.


PRIVACY POLICY
All information provided by course participants is confidential and will not be shared with any other parties for any reason.


ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
These free courses are sponsored by University of Louisville School of Public Health and Information Sciences and the Center for Health Hazards Preparedness (formerly the Center for Deterrence of Biowarfare and Bioterrorism).

Funding support provided by Bioterrorism and Curriculum Development Program, Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA), and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).


ADDITIONAL ONLINE COURSES
For information regarding additional Public Health Preparedness Online Courses, click here. For a list of all our online courses, click here.