Skip Navigation Links
WebWISER
Substances   Identify   Tools   Help

WISER Help
About WebWISER
   Version
   Disclaimer
   Browser Configuration
   Overview
  
Concepts
   Known Substances
   Unknown Chemical Substances
  
Screens
   Known Substance Screen
   Substance Data Screen
   Help Identify Screen
   Tools
  
WebWISER Version
  
Web Application Version:  4.2.59
Web Services Version:  4.2.65
Database Version:  4.2.16
Return to top
Disclaimer
  
The U.S. Government does not warrant or assume any legal liability or responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or usefulness of any information, apparatus, product, or process disclosed.

It is not the intention of NLM to provide specific medical advice to the public, but rather to provide users with information to better understand their health.

NLM does not endorse or recommend any commercial products, process, or services.
Return to top

Browser Configuration
  
Following are browser configuration settings that are required for proper display of certain content in WebWISER. On certain mobile browsers, such as on the BlackBerry platform, they may not be enabled by default. Note that the use of images by this mobile version of WebWISER is intentionally very limited. However, failure to enable images will result in the display of otherwise hidden links for skipping navigation that are intended to support screen readers.
Return to top
Overview
  
The Wireless Information System for Emergency Responders (WISER) provides information on hazardous substances to First Responders. For a known substance, WISER allows the user to quickly find it using the name, an alias for it, or one of the numerical designations for it. WISER then provides information on hazardous materials response, physical properties, medical treatment, environmental effects, and much more. If the name or number of the substance is not known, WISER allows the user to enter characteristics of the substance to help identify it.
Return to top
Known Substances
  
Often, the substance at a hazardous materials incident has been identified. Identification can be through labels on containers, shipping papers, associated MSDS's, or from knowledgeable personnel. The identifying information for the substance can be the name, one of many alternative names, or a numerical designation for it. WISER provides the ability to select the substance based on any of this identifying information. WISER only contains limited trade names of substances due to the very large number of them.
  
For the known substance, WISER provides information from five categories of information: Basic, Physical Properties, Hazmat, Medical, and Environmental.
  
Even if a substance has been identified, the user should verify that the identification is correct. WISER aids in this by providing a summary of physical identifying characteristics, symptoms associated with exposure to the substance, substance classifications/categories, and NFPA 704 placard information.
  
For additional details on using WISER to look up known substances, see the help for the Known Substance Screen.
Return to top
Unknown Chemical Substances
  
If a chemical can not been identified, WISER will aid in identifying it by allowing the user to specify criteria from the following: As criteria are selected, the substances that do not match all of the selections are removed from the search. This allows a user to narrow down the list of possible substances.
  
Once the user has reduced the number of possible substances, the results screen will list the remaining substances. The list can be grouped by the identifying criteria and sorted by name or numeric identifiers. Substances that the user knows do not match can be removed from the list (and brought back later). The remaining substances represent a short list of substances that the user can use to perform more diagnostic testing or other means of identification.
  
For additional details on using WISER to identify unknown chemicals, see the help for the Help Identify Screen.
Return to top
Known Substance Screen
  
Selecting the Substances link from the menu bar display the Known Substance Screen, from which a known substance can be selected to view its data on the Substance Data Screen. Locate a substance by paging through the list, or enter text in the Search By text box and press the Search button. The list is filtered to contain only those substances that match the entered text. A * can be entered as a wildcard character, and is always assumed at the end of the input text. When the desired substance is located, click it to view the Substance Data Screen.
  
Use the 'Search By' options to control the ordering of the substance list. The default, 'Name', orders the substances alphabetically and includes substance aliases as well as the core names. The other 'Search By' options sort the substances by numeric identifiers, including UN/NA, CAS Registry, and STCC numbers.
  
By default, the substance list includes all substances in WISER. By using the links at the top of the page, the substance list can be reduced to only chemicals, radiologicals, or biologicals. Or, the 'Substances, Filtered by Category' option can be used to create a list that includes substances from selected categories. When this option has been selected, an "Edit Filter" button appears. Press it to display a page from which the desired categories can be selected. Upon submitting the selections, the substance list will contain all substances that are included in any of the selected categories.
Return to top
Substance Data Screen
  
The Substance Data Screen appears after selecting a substance from the Known Substance Screen or the Results Screen. If an alias of the substance is selected, it is shown below the substance name. The Data Screen allows you to select and view all available information about the substance.
  
The Data Menu Screen first shows list of the categories of data available for the substance. Below the list is the Key Info, a summary of the most immediate and critical information about the substance. To see additional data on the substance, select a data category to drill down into the individual data items.
Return to top
Help Identify Screen
Return to top
  
Help Identify Intro
The Identify link accesses the Help Identify functionality for identifying unknown chemicals. It allows you to narrow down a list of possible substances based on any or all of the following criteria: physical properties, symptoms of exposed patients, classifications/categories of the substance, full or partial NFPA 704 placard values, and transport type (DOT placard and/or rail car or road trailer used for transport). The progress of the search is displayed as a count of the matching substances in the "Show Results" link near the top of the screen. For example, "Show Results: 20 of 415" indicates 20 substances remain out of a maximum 415. As you enter search criteria, the count will get smaller, showing the reduction in the number of substances that remain. Selecting the "Show Results" link navigates to the Results Screen where that list of substances can be viewed and analyzed. This list will include only those substances that match ALL of the entered search criteria.
Return to Help Identify Screen
  
Properties
The Properties link allows you to enter physical properties of the unknown substance. Select a property category, such as State. This results in a list of property options in that category, along with the number of remaining substances that match each option. To make a selection, select the "Add" link the precedes it. The list of property categories are again displayed, including an indication of the selections that have been made. To unselect a property, return to the list of options for that category, and select the "Remove" link that precedes the property.
Return to Help Identify Screen
  
Symptoms
The Symptoms link allows you to enter signs and symptoms resulting from exposure to the unknown substance. Select a symptom category, such as Neurological. This results in a list of symptom options in that category, along with the number of remaining substances that match each option. To make a selection, select the "Add" link the precedes it. The list of symptom categories are again displayed, including an indication of the selections that have been made. To unselect a symptom, return to the list of options for that category, and select the "Remove" link that precedes the symptom.
Return to Help Identify Screen
  
Substance Categories
The Categories link allows for the selection of categories/classifications that can be associated with the unknown substance, thus reducing the results list to contain only those substances that are members of the selected substance category(ies). A list of category types is initially displayed, and selecting one results in a list of category options, along with the number of remaining substances that match each option. To make a selection, select the "Add" link the precedes it. Some categories consist of a multilevel hierarchy in which parent categories can be selected or just individual subcategories (children). When this is the case, the name of the parent category is displayed as a link. Either add the parent category, or select the name link to advance to a list of the subcategories.
  
Following a category selection, the list of category types is again displayed, including an indication of the selections that have been made. To unselect a category, return to the list of options for that category type, and select the "Remove" link that precedes the category.
Return to Help Identify Screen
  
NFPA 704
The NFPA link allows you to enter hazard values from a NFPA 704 placard and thus reduce the results list to include only the substances with matching placard information. Select a hazard category, such as Health. This results in a list of hazard values, along with the number of remaining substances that match each value. To make a selection, select the "Add" link the precedes it. The list of hazard categories are again displayed, including an indication of the selections that have been made. To unselect a hazard value, return to the list of options for that hazard, and select the "Remove" link that precedes the hazard.
Return to Help Identify Screen
  
Transport
The Transport link allows you to indicate the DOT placard that is on the transport vehicle of the unknown substance, and/or you can indicate the type of rail car or road trailer carrying the substance. Click one of the Select Placard, Select Rail Car, or Select Road Trailer links to browse a list of respective images. Upon locating the matching placard, rail car, or road trailer image, click it to select it. The results list will be reduced to include only those substances that match any other criteria selections AND which could be transported under the chosen placard or in the chosen container. Use the Clear links on the Transport screen to remove a selection.
  
Notes:
Return to Help Identify Screen
  
Results
The results list is the list of substances that match all of the criteria selections that have been made. To view the results, select the Show Results link, which also includes an indication of the size of the results list, for example, "Show Results: 10 of 415". At the bottom of the results list is a Sort By option for sorting the list by name or identifying number (UN/NA, CAS, or STCC). The Group By option can be used to group the substances by the various criteria categories. To view data on a substance, click on substance to display the Substance Data Screen.
Return to Help Identify Screen
Tools
  
In addition to substance-specific data, WISER also provides a set of tools and reference materials not related to a specific WISER substance. These are accessed via the "Tools" link. The available tools are organized into three submenus: Return to top
  
Guidebook Tools
Guidebook tools options include the WMD Response Guidebook. This allows for the browsing of the individual guide pages of this publication.
Return to Tools
  
Triage Procedures
Options under Triage Procedures include the START (adult) and JumpSTART (pediatric) algorithms. These are presented with an algorithm (or flow chart) viewer that helps the user walk through the multiple steps and decision points. The History button allows a review of the decisions made so far, and includes links to return to those decision points. The Preview tab provides an image of the entire algorithm.
Return to Tools
  
Radiological Tools
Options under Radiological Tools include an Onset of Vomiting Dose Estimation tool, a Radiation Unit Converter tool, and a collection of reference documents.
  
Radiation Dose Estimator - Onset of Vomiting: this tool provides a whole-body radiation dose estimate based on the time at which the onset of vomiting occurs after exposure to radiation.
  
Radiation Unit Converter: this tool provides conversion between standard and international units for various unit categories.
  
The radiation reference documents include emergency contacts, initial onsite activities of a radiation incident, excerpts from the IAEA Manual for First Responders to a Radiological Emergency, and the complete Radiological Terrorism Emergency Management Pocket Guide for Clinicians.
Return to Tools
Copyright, Privacy, Accessibility
U.S. National Library of Medicine, 8600 Rockville Pike, Bethesda, MD 20894
National Institutes of Health, Health & Human Services