Facts About Sarin(3)

Facts About Sarin

Even a small drop of sarin on the skin can cause sweating and muscle twitching where sarin touched the skin.

Exposure to large doses of sarin by any route may result in the following harmful health effects:

○ Loss of consciousness

○ Convulsions

○ Paralysis

○ Respiratory failure possibly leading to death

Showing these signs and symptoms does not necessarily mean that a person has been exposed to sarin.

What the long-term health effects are

Mild or moderately exposed people usually recover completely. Severely exposed people are not likely to survive. Unlike some organophosphate pesticides, nerve agents have not been associated with neurological problems lasting more than 1 to 2 weeks after the exposure.

How people can protect themselves and what they should do if they are exposed to sarin

Recovery from sarin exposure is possible with treatment, but the antidotes available must be used quickly to be effective. Therefore, the best thing to do is avoid

exposure. If exposure cannot be avoided, rapidly wash off with soap and water and get medical care as quickly as possible.

Leave the area where the sarin was released and get to fresh air. Quickly moving to an area where fresh air is available is highly effective in reducing the possibility of death from exposure to sarin vapors.

○ If the sarin release was outdoors, move away from the area where the sarin was released. Go to the highest ground possible, because sarin is heavier than air and will sink to low-lying areas.

○ If the sarin release was indoors, get out of the building.

Remove any clothing that has liquid sarin on it, and if possible, seal the clothing in a plastic bag. Then seal the first plastic bag in a second plastic bag. Removing and sealing the clothing in this way will help protect people from any chemicals that might be on their clothes.

If clothes were placed in plastic bags, inform either the local or state health

department or emergency personnel upon their arrival. Do not handle the plastic bags.

If helping other people remove their clothing, try to avoid touching any contaminated areas, and remove the clothing as quickly as possible.

Rinse the eyes with plain water for 10 to 15 minutes if they are burning or if vision is blurry.