USAMRICD TECH MEMO 90 1 CLINICAL NOTES ON CHEM CASUALTY CARE

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Subject: USAMRICD TECH MEMO 90 1 CLINICAL NOTES ON CHEM CASUALTY CARE    

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box  ID: BX003205

Folder Title: CLINICAL NOTES ON CHEMICAL CASUALTY CARE                                                        

Document Number:          1

Folder Seq  #:         31



              AUG 16 190 ii:43


             U@MMCD Technical Memorandum 90-1
                             a. Severity of a@ay damage is a major
                        4. Other   contributory factor in death
                             A. Bone iuarrow
                                   1.    DNA damage in rapidly proliferating
                                   precursor cells results in cessation of WBCT
                                   RBC and platlet production
                                   2. initial leukocytosis, followed in 2--3
                                   days by leukopenia, which in severe exposure
                                   can reach 0 (RBC and platlets later drio)
                                   3. Bad prognostic sign
                                   4. No good correlation with percent of body
                                    surface area covered by skin lesion, e.g.,
                                    may have WBC count of 0 with 15t BSA burn,
                                    or minimal drop with large burn.        Factors:
                                    depth of burn, liquid vs vapor burn,
                                    inhalational exposure. Also, no good data
                             B. Gastrointestinal tract
                                   1. Damage to proliferating mucosa cells
                                   2.  Nausea is common (perhaps through other
                                   mechanisms); vomiting, bloody diarrhea have
                                   been reported (but bleeding is rare). Nausea
                                   and vomiting may occur early even in mild
                                   intoxication and in absence of more severe
                                   gastrointestinal damage
                             C. Cholinargic
                                   1.    in large amounts, mustard may have
                                   cholinergic effects; may account for miosis,
          nausea and vomiting, some CNS signs
                             D. Central nervous system
                                   1.   Fatigue, malaise, depression, anxiety,
                                   agitation, "neurosis," "personality
                                   disorders," have been reported
                       5. Death    is usually from pulmonary danage/infection
                       and sepsis due to impaired defense mechanisms
                  P. Medical Care. First and foremost is decontamination (a)
                       to prevent further damage to the casualty and (b) to
                       prevent spread to others, including medical care
                       provider.
                       1. Skin
                             a. Erythema: calamine or other soothing
                             lotion to relieve itching, burning may be all
                             that is needed
                             b. Blisters: There is some disagreement whether
                             to drain or leave intact. Most feel blisters
                             will break anyway so should carefully drain
                             Wash (irrigate) several times a day with soap and
                             water or water alone (whirlpool good for large
                             areas)

Document 22 f:/Week-36/BX003205/CLINICAL NOTES ON CHEMICAL CASUALTY CARE/usamricd tech memo 90 1 clinical notes on chem c:12249609312728
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003205
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = CLINICAL NOTES ON CHEMICAL CASUALTY CARE
Folder Seq # = 31
Subject = USAMRICD TECH MEMO 90 1 CLINICAL NOTES ON CHEM C
Document Seq # = 1
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