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File: aaavn_01.txtSUBJECT: POTENTIAL QUESTION AND RESPONSE FOR CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY POTENTIAL SG QUESTION & RESPONSE FOR CONGRESSIONAL TESTIMONY COMMITTEE DATE REFERENCE NO. HASC 5/6 FEBRUARY 1992 SGHR 92-1-8 ORIGINATING OFFICE INDIVIDUAL OFFICE SYMBOL DATE SUBMITTED COLONEL JONES SGHR 30 JAN 1992 QUESTION: Was the Air Force prepared to address the threat from biological and chemical weapons (BW/CW) during Desert Shield/Storm? RESPONSE: First let me emphasize the fact that biological and chemical weapons are called weapons of mass destruction for a reason. Their use would have significantly complicated medical care, however, we were relatively satisfied with our capability to treat BW/CW casualities by the mid-January time frame which was the period of greatest risk. -Routine Medical Specific BW/CW training (in addition to personal protection) -Continued Medical Readiness Training (in-house annual training) -Special Desert Shield/Storm training -Army Mobile Medical Training Teams and Joint Medical Readiness Training Center teams (CONUS and in AOR). -As few chemical patients are present in peacetime, special treatment protocols were devel- oped and distributed to all AOR treatment facilities. -Complete set of literature distributed on treatment of biological casualities. -Decontamination Teams assigned to each air transportable hospital and our 250 bed contingency hospital in AOR. -Note: ATCs not collocated with ATHs had no decon teams. -Prevention/protection -"Non-medical" includes detection devices, individual protection garments (masks and suits), training and self administered prophylaxis and antidotes (pyridostigmine and ciprofloxacin tablets and atropine, pralidoxime (2-pam) and diazepam (CANA) autoinjectors). -"Medical" includes antibotics, vaccines, antitoxins, additional prophylaxis and antidotes. -Vaccinated selected troops in high risk situations in the AOR against most likely agents (anthrax and botulism). -Strongly suggest request for non-Air Force specific details be passed to Army as Executive Agent for BW/CW. RESPONDING OFFICE INDIVIDUAL OFFICE SYMBOL DATE PREPARED
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