What does CBRN mean? In specialist circles, the term stands for chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards. Alternatively, it is also referred to as NBC hazards, in which case the string of letters stands for nuclear, biological and chemical hazards. CBRN or NBC hazards are particularly relevant for disaster control, as it must be able to prepare and implement appropriate planning concepts for emergencies. This usually requires special equipment, including special equipment such as the CBRN explorer, a specially prepared vehicle.
For radiological and nuclear hazards (covered by nuclear hazards in the NBC variant), the focus is on containing the hazard and applying life-saving measures to prevent the spread of radiation sickness. For the latter focus, the fastest possible removal of people at risk from the danger zone and decontamination are crucial. Depending on the scenario, medical measures can also be initiated to prevent the absorption of radioactive substances or to accelerate their elimination.
Biological hazards according to the CBRN and NBC definition include microorganisms (bacteria, viruses, fungi) and toxins. Highly contagious infectious diseases in particular, such as bird flu, H1N1 and COVID-19, pose a major threat in a globalized world with its numerous transport options.
Chemical hazards include chemical warfare agents, various industrial chemicals and, depending on the cause, different fire products such as carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, soot and sulphur dioxides. Chemical warfare agents such as mustard gas, sarin or phosgene can damage the body in various ways, which makes correct identification of the threat, fast response times and effective control essential.
CBRN explorer in action
The CBRN explorer (also: CBRN exploration vehicle, or CBRN-ErkW) is responsible for detecting, measuring and reporting chemical and radioactive sources of danger in the event of an emergency. The CBRN explorer is operated by a specially trained crew and has personal protective equipment (protective suit, masks, filters and breathing apparatus) for each member.
Other key tasks of the CBRN explorer and its crew include taking samples of soil, water and air as well as recording local weather data in order to be able to predict the spread of danger. The data is transmitted to the respective section management. According to the Federal Office of Civil Protection and Disaster Assistance, there are currently more than 300 CBRN-ErkW in use across Germany.
