Recognising the smells of chemical agents

First deployed during the launch of the Community Engagement Programme Plus (CEP Plus) by Prime Minister Mr Lee Hsien Loong on 18 Oct 2008, at Ang Mo Kio Ave 3, the Chemical Agents Scent Recognition Booth is the latest Public Education initiative by the SCDF.

The booth seeks to enhance the preparedness of our people by increasing their awareness and ability to recognize chemical agents through experiential learning. Similar to a perfume stand at a regular department store, participants are handed with scented sticks to sample the scent of the different types of simulated chemical agents. This sensory experience would help them to recognize the smell, so that they could react quickly and appropriately during emergencies involving chemical agent attacks.  The eight scents available in the booth include chlorine (choking agent), lewisite (blister agent) – floral smell, phosgene oxime (blister agent) – hay/corn smell, , sulphur mustard (blister agent) – mustard smell, hydrogen sulfide (blood agent) – rotten gas, hydrogen cyanide (blood agent) – almond smell, tabun (nerve agent) – fruity smell and soman (nerve agent) – vicks smell.

 

The chemical agents scent recognition booth

A close-up of the booth

During the launch of the booth

This article was taken from the February issue of Rescue 995, the original article was written by LTA Johan Nazrin from HQ PAD.