SIGNIFICANT RPT OF USAMRICD 19 FEB 91

File: 970101_sep96_decls17_0002.txt
Page: 0002
Total Pages: 3

Subject: SIGNIFICANT RPT OF USAMRICD  19 FEB 91                          

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box  ID: BX003204

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

Document Number:          3

Folder Seq  #:         28







          SGRD-UV-ZA
          SL,@Cr: Significant Activity Report of USAMRICD Forward Detachment, 17 January to
          15 February 1991

          data capture and analysis, coordination with experts and proponents in the U.S., and
          dissemination of new clinical information through a technical network of chemical casualty
          officers in each major medical unit in the theater. Current U.S. medical management is based
          on our own experience with peacetime accidental chemical agent exposures, on products and
          methods developed from experimental work, and on analysis of the recent experience of other
          countries. Our medical procedures will be validated against our own wartime experience.
          Clinical data and new technical guidamce, if needed, will be provided through the chemical
          casualty officer network.

          5.    CHEMICAL CASUALTY OFFICER NETWORK: The process of designating unit
          chemical casualty officers, begun in December 1990, is now complete. Army units have
          designated medical officer graduates of the M2C3 course for each hospital, division and
          brigade, and medical unit. 'Me network was used in January 1991 for data capture on
          pyridostigniine safety, and to disseminate the FDA's recommended soldier information on
          pvridostigmine.

          6.    STAFF AC'NONS: Numerous staff actions and policies were proposed and managed
          at Central Command and subordinate unit levels. For "ample, these included restriction of
          insecticide use that would impair cholinesterase reserve, consideration of chemical casualty
          recovery times compared with theater evacuation plans and policy, uploading all evacuation
          vehicles with decontamination solution to permit forward decontamination of patients
          whenever possible, and guidance on distribution and accountability for CANA, the diazepam
ations to the American
          and allied civilian communities and to the press were a recurring action.

          7.          NING: Over 90% of physicians and physician assistants (PAs) assigned to
          divisional units are now M2C3 graduates. 'ne percentage for corps-level units and echelons
          above corps is about 50%. Mini-courses and refresher/updates were provided to over 40
          hospitals and medical units over the past month, a target audience of approximately 3,000
          physicians, PAa, nurses, and medics.

          8.    PYRIDOSTIGMINE DATA C                    E: Over 30,000 U.S. soldiers, primarily from the
          XVIII Airborne Corps, took pyridostigmine for 5 to 7 days in January 1991 under a chemical
          agent threat. Clinical information on safety, acceptability, and potential adverse effects from
          this experience has been captured and is now being collated for analysis and transmission to
          USA-MMDA. In sununary, peacetime volunteer experience was largely validated in this
          substantial population under the stresses of field conditions and anticipated combat. The
          pretreatment is well-tolerated and substantially free from serious mission-impairing side effects
          in wartime use. Soldiers have increased confidence in their ability to function normally while
          taking the pretreatment.

          9.    PYRIDOSTIGMINE/ANESTHESIA INTERACRION:                          The known effects of
          pyridostig@ne on postsynaptic acetylcholine receptors and cholinergic traffic suggest that
          special attention to muscle relaxant management may be important during induction of

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Document 3 f:/Week-36/BX003204/CHEMICAL CASUALTY CARE ANNUAL REPORT OPERATION DESERT SHIELD STORM/significant rpt of usamricd 19 feb 91:12249609312218
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 = SIGNIFICANT RPT OF USAMRICD 19 FEB 91
Document Seq # = 3
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 = 24-DEC-1996