Chempack

CHEMPACK is a national program funded by the Administration for Strategic Preparedness and Response (ASPR) and is an extension of the Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) program. CHEMPACK is a first responder asset that provides antidotes for individuals exposed to intentional nerve agent attacks and large-scale organophosphate (pesticide) poisonings.

The purpose of CHEMPACK is to implement a nationwide program for the “forward” placement of nerve agent antidotes and to provide state and local governments with a sustainable resource that increases their capability to respond quickly to a nerve agent event.

CHEMPACK comes in two types of containers: hospital and Emergency Medical Service (EMS) containers. A hospital container is designed for hospital dispensing, and the medication comes in multi-dose vials. The EMS container is designed for use by first responders, and medications come in auto-injectors. The hospital containers have enough nerve agent antidote kits to treat 1,000 victims. The EMS containers have enough to treat 450 victims.

CHEMPACK containers are strategically located in secure locations in Indiana. CHEMPACK containers are maintained in climate-controlled conditions in order to maximize the shelf life of the medications. The CHEMPACK containers are monitored 24/7 by ASPR. In Indiana, there are a total of 32 CHEMPACK cache sites.

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The Incident Commander (IC) remotely at a scene or EMS Officer will conduct an initial assessment for the potential need for a CHEMPACK based on the initial scene evaluation. The IC or EMS Officer will request CHEMPACK deployment through coordination with the cache host site, local hospital, and emergency management agency (EMA).

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Yes, the Indiana Department of Health (IDOH) Division of Emergency Preparedness (DEP) maintains the Indiana CHEMPACK Program—Nerve Agent Medical Countermeasure (MCM) plan.

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