The CHEMPACK is one part of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) Strategic National Stockpile (SNS) program.
While the SNS Program is expected to respond within 12 hours or less, federal officials recognize that this response time is not adequate for nerve agent events. In 2002, the CDC established the CHEMPACK project to place a sustainable resource of nerve agent antidotes throughout the United States; where they would be rapidly available to state and local emergency responders.
What is CHEMPACK?
The CHEMPACK is a supply of nerve agent antidotes and supplies. The CHEMPACK contains nerve agent-specific antidotes because nerve agents are the most deadly of the chemical agents and because rapid response is essential for patient survival.
CHEMPACK does not contain antidotes for blood agent attacks, mustard agents, or industrial gases. CHEMPACK antidotes are specific for the treatment of nerve agent attacks, and in some cases, accidental exposure (such as from a large release of pesticides).