FWD CHEMICAL CASUALTY DECONTAMINATION

File: 102996_sep96_decls7_0001.txt
Page: 0001
Total Pages: 1

Subject: FWD CHEMICAL CASUALTY DECONTAMINATION                           

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box ID: BX003204

Folder Title: CHEMICAL CASUALTY CARE ANNUAL REPORT OPERATION DESERT SHIELD STORM                              

Document Number:          6

Folder SEQ  #:         28








                                    FACT SHEET
                     FORWARD CHEMICAL CASUALTY DECONTAMINATION


              Chemical casualties need decontamination as rapidly as
         possible, as far forward as possible, and as simply as possible.
         We learned this critical lesson in World War I and its truth was
         conf irmed strongly in the Iran-Iraq Gulf War. Medics need to
         know how to decontaminate manageable numbers of casualties far
         for-ward. Hospitals and medical companies will have teams and
         stations for patient decontamination when needed, but aggressive
         forward decontamination will save lives and conserve the time and
         effort it would take to decontaminate ground and air evacuation
         vehicles.

              Every ground or air evacuation vehicle needs these casualty
         decontamination supplies: one 5 gallon water can filled with 4.5
         gallons of water, one 1 gallon container of household bleach
         (strength 5%), four blankets or a roll of plastic sheeting (NSN
         8135006181783), a bucket, and 2 sponges or towels. If no liquid
         bleach is available, premix one 6 OZ container of calcium
         hypochlorite (NSN 6810002550471) with a full 5 gallons of water,
         protect from heat and light, and change weekly.

              Forward casualty decontamination is performed when a
         casualty is out of an area of liquid contamination, before
         loading the casualty onto the evacuation vehicle. Medics in a
         clear or vapor-hazard-only environment should mask and don their
         butyl rubber gloves at a minimum. If liquid or droplet hazard is
         nearby or threatened, or to avoid splash hazard from handling
         more than one casualty, they go to MOPP 4. Add half of the
         gallon container of bleach to the water can to make a fresh 0.5%
         decon solution, mix, and fill the bucket with this solution.
hing. Leave the
         casualty masked in a vapor-hazard environment, remove the mask
         when out of the vapor hazard. Wash the casualty thoroughly with
         a sponge or towel using the decon solution, with special
         attention to the hair, neck, armpits, groin, and buttocks crease.
         Turn the casualty over onto a blanket or plastic sheeting and
         wash the other side thoroughly as well. The decon solution is
         safe for open wounds, but should be kept out of the eyes. After
         the wash, medics clean their gloves in straight 5% bleach, move
         the decontaminated casualty onto a litter, and transport.  Decon
         the casualty's mask with straight 5% bleach as well. If no
         straight 5% bleach is available, substitute one 6 oz container of
         calcium hypochlorite dissolved in a 2 quart canteen of water.
         Forward casualty decon is often done when no monitors or alarms
         are available. The best assurance of complete decon is a
         thorough washdown.

Document 1 f:/Week-36/BX003204/CHEMICAL CASUALTY CARE ANNUAL REPORT OPERATION DESERT SHIELD STORM/fwd chemical casualty decontamination:1025961306328
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003204
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = CHEMICAL CASUALTY CARE ANNUAL REPORT OPERATION DESERT SHIELD STORM
Folder Seq # = 28
Subject = FWD CHEMICAL CASUALTY DECONTAMINATION
Document Seq # = 6
Document Date =
Scan Date =
Queued for Declassification = 01-JAN-1980
Short Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Long Term Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Permanent Referral = 01-JAN-1980
Non-Health Related Document = 01-JAN-1980
Declassified = 25-OCT-1996