 | Emergency Response in a Changing World Our world has changed dramatically in just a few short years. Events that would have been unthinkable outside a movie theater now must be considered the early stages of a weapons of mass destruction (WMD) or hazardous materials event. Weapons of mass destruction are materials used by terrorists that have the potential to cause great harm over a large area.Terrorists use fear to bring about political change. They want to cause panic and disrupt normal activities. Their goal is to injure (incapacitate)—and not necessarily kill—large numbers of people. By injuring as many victims as possible, terrorists cause mass confusion and panic. This chaos could affect an already overloaded EMS system, bringing it to a standstill. Additionally, healthcare professionals and emergency responders are prime targets. Incapacitating them ensures that other victims do not recover. There are six main categories of WMD:
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