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Acetylcholine: Neurotransmitter at neuromuscular junctions, at autonomic ganglia, in the central nervous system and at postganglionic parasympathetic nerve endings

Acetylcholinesterase: Enzyme found in red blood cells, at neuromuscular junctions, parasympathetic effector sites, autonomic ganglia and in the central nervous system. Catalyses the breakdown of acetylcholine to acetic acid and choline

AChE: Acetylcholinesterase

Aging: In the context of nerve agents, a process of monodealkylation of the nerve agentacetylcholinesterase complex which renders the complex unreactivatable, either spontaneously or by pyridinium oximes Amyl nitrite Methaemoglobin-generating cyanide antidote. Can be inhaled

Atropine: Compound that blocks muscarinic acetylcholine receptors. Use produces dilation of the pupils and an increased heart rate. It is used in nerve agent poisoning to counteract the effects of increased amounts of acetylcholine that result from inhibition of acetylcholinesterase

Avizafone: A soluble prodrug of diazepam that is compatible for IM injection with atropine and pralidoxime mesilate and is included in some autoinjection devices such as the L4A1 ComboPen

AVPU: The AVPU scale allows rapid assessment of a casualty's state of consciousness. (Alert responds to Voice, responds to Pain, Unresponsive)

Cyclosarin: A liquid nerve agent of moderate volatility (cyclohexyl methylphosphonofluoridate). GF.

Dexamethasone: A synthetic steroid drug

Diazepam: Widely used sedative compound of the benzodiazepine group of drugs.

Dicobalt edetate: An EDTA chelate of cobalt ions. The commercial preparation contains free cobalt ions.

4-Dimethylaminophenol: A methaemoglobin-generating cyanide antidote

DMAP: 4-Dimethylaminophenol

DOX: Doxycylcine: an antibiotic

EDTA: Ethylenediamine tetra-acetic acid. Used as disodium EDTA, a chelating agent. This agent binds divalent metals such as calcium or cobalt.

ETYA: 5,8,11,14-eicosatetrayanoic acid. A substrate analogue used to reduce production of prostaglandins

Frusemide: A diuretic drug

GA: Tabun, ethyl N-dimethylphosphorocyanidate

GB: Sarin, isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate

GD: Soman, pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate

GF: Cyclosarin, cyclohexyl methylphosphonylfluoridate

GSH: Glutathione. A natural antioxidant found in the body

HCN: Hydrogen cyanide

HI-6: A pyridinium oxime (asoxime chloride)

Hydrogen cyanide: Liquid or gas that blocks electron transport and thereby oxidative metabolism

Hydroxocobalamin: Vitamin B12a, a cyanide antidote. It consists of cobalt at the centre of a corrin structure and a nucleotide

Methaemoglobin: Haemoglobin contains iron in the divalent, reduced, ferrous state. Oxidation to the ferric (trivalent) form produces methaemoglobin. Methaemoglobin does not reversibly bind to oxygen but does bind to cyanide ions to form cyanmethaemoglobin

Mustard gas: Dichlordiethylene sulphide. Sulphur mustard. A vesicant widely used in World War I. A liquid at room temperature

NAC: N-acetylcysteine: a synthetic antioxidant drug

Nerve agents: Organophosphorus compounds of great toxicity, developed as chemical warfare agents Obidoxime A pyridinium oxime

Oximes: Pyridinium oximes are compounds that increase the rate of dissociation of an organophosphorus compound from acetylcholinesterase. Pralidoxime mesilate, obidoxime and HI-6 are pyridinium oximes. Oximes comprise a very large group of compounds, with diverse properties but pyridinium oximes, in terms of the treatment of organophosphate compounds are frequently simply referred to as oximes.

Pralidoxime mesilate (P2S): A pyridinium oxime

Prostaglandins: Large series of physiologically active compounds derived from unsaturated long chain fatty acids. These compounds play a part in inflammatory reactions in the body/ Production is inhibited by the antiinflammatory drug aspirin Pyridinium oximes These are compounds that increase the rate of dissociation of an organophosphorus compound from acetylcholinesterase.

Pyridostigmine: A carbamate drug that reversibly inhibits acetylchloinesterase

RADS: Reactive airways dysfunction syndrome. A syndrome produced by exposure to high concentrations of gases such as chlorine and characterised by an enhanced bronchoconstrictor response to airway irritants.

Sarin: A volatile liquid nerve agent, chemical name isopropyl methylphosphonofluoridate.

Sodium nitrite: Methemoglobin generating cyanide antidote

Sodium thiosulfate: Cyanide antidote that acts as a co-factor in the conversion of cyanide to the less toxic thiocyanate ion

Soman: A liquid nerve agent of moderate volatility. Chemical name pinacolyl methylphosphonofluoridate. Sulphur mustard Mustard gas

Symblepheron: Adhesions between the conjunctiva lining the eyelids (palpebral conjunctiva) and that covering the white of the eye (bulbar conjunctiva). Management includes gentle breaking down of adhesions by means of a glass rod or insertion of a ring to prevent adhesions forming.

Tabun: Nerve agent produced in Germany in the late 1930's: liquid of moderate volatility. Chemical name: ethyl N-dimethylphosphorocyanidate

Uveitis: Inflammation of the middle or uveal coat of the eye. The area comprises the iris, the ciliary body and the very vascular choroid that supports the retina

Vesicant: Substance that causes blistering of the skin.

VX: This nerve agent has no common name. A liquid of low volatility with the chemical name o-ethyl-s-[2(diisopropylamino)ethyl] methylphosphonthioate.