Recognize the Symptoms of Sarin Exposure and Get Workers Compensation ASAP
Sarin is a man-made neurotoxin developed in Germany in 1938 when scientists were testing pesticides. What they discovered is a highly-volatile, extremely toxic compound that was soon introduced in Germany’s military weapon arsenal. Even though WWII soon followed, sarin was never used by the Nazis, who were cautious about possible retaliation from the Allies.
Because of its extreme toxicity and volatility, and because it goes against international laws of war, the production and stockpiling of sarin, amongst many chemical weapons, was banned in 162 countries through the Chemical Weapons Convention, administered by the OPCW.
Even though stockpiles of chemical weapons are already destroyed in most countries and in the course of destruction in others, incidents involving sarin can still occur through terrorist attacks or in the process of destruction handled by governmental agents. If you ever suspect being exposed to sarin, or if you know you are in the proximity of this substance and start showing signs of poisoning, first of all, get emergency care, as it can be life-threatening.
Symptoms of Sarin Poisoning or Exposure
Sarin is a nerve gas that acts extremely quickly on one’s neurotransmitters, stopping them from functioning at a normal frequency. As a result, a victim’s neurotransmitters keep shooting signals to the brain, causing the basic vital functions to be altered. If the exposure is long enough (and it doesn’t take long) and an antidote is not administered in time, the victim eventually dies of heart and lung failure.
Here are the symptoms of sarin exposure and poisoning:
- Excessive drooling
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Constricted pupils
- Blurred vision
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Excessive urination
- Muscle weakness
- Difficulty breathing
- Loss of consciousness
- Convulsions
- Paralysis
- Respiratory failure
While these symptoms cannot be attributed solely to sarin exposure, having more of them at the same time and getting them very fast along with people nearby is a sign of sarin presence. Get away from the possible source as soon as possible, remove contaminated clothing and clean exposed skin with plenty of water and soap. Make sure the authorities are alerted and you are stabilized and protected before you help anybody else.
Claiming Workers Comp for Sarin Exposure
Depending on the circumstances leading to sarin exposure, a victim can claim workers comp. As this is an exceptional situation, it depends a lot on what the sarin source is, how the victim came in contact with it and what company is the victim working for.
Businesses with large infrastructures (office buildings, supermarkets, etc.) have now the obligation to offer protective measures in case of terrorist attacks. So, a victim of a sarin attack could receive compensation if they were carrying work duties at the time. If the exposure to sarin occurred during a military action, it depends on further circumstances. Those who get injured on the battlefield are not covered by workers comp, but they function by veteran regulations, while the members of the military injured off the battlefield could claim workers compensation.
In any case, the first course of action is to get the proper medical help and make sure you are out of danger, then assess the damage done. The next step is to report it to your employer and to get in contact with an experienced workers compensation attorney.