COVER SHEET FOR DOCUMENT TRANSMISSON

File: 970101_sep96_decls57_0003.txt
Page: 0003
Total Pages: 10

Subject: COVER SHEET FOR DOCUMENT TRANSMISSON                            

Unit: OTSG        

Parent Organization: HSC         

Box  ID: BX003205

Folder Title: USE OF CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENT TOPICAL SKIL PROTECTANT                                           

Document Number:          2

Folder Seq  #:         13


              OCT.01 "30 16:43 HSAI;                                        P.02






                                                               I October 1990
              PROPOSED INTERIM DOCTRINE FOR USE OF CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENT
              TOPICAL SKIN PROTECTANT



                   a. The topical skin protectant (TSP) is for use in
              protecting the skin from the effects of chemical warfare vesicant
              agents. The TS? provides individual akin protection by Inhibiting
              penetration of mustard; it enhance& the ttfactivenoes of field
              akin decontamination systems.
                   b. The TSP creates as a physical barrier between the skin
              and the agent; only those areas of akin having an effective layer
              of TS? will be protected.
                   c. The TSP in not effective against thickened son%n, and
              probably not effective against VX.
                   d. Individuals should use TSP an an adjunct to MOPP, not as
              a substitute. Established doctrine for individual
              mlosion-orlented protection posture (MOP?) in followed II agent
              contamination is anticipated or suspected, even If the individual
              is wearing TSP. Individuals should use TSP as an adjunct to
              MOPP, not as a substitute.
                   a. All service members at risk In a potentially
              contaminated chemical warfare environment should us* TSP.
                   f. The corps/division commander will decide whether to
              begin, continue, or discontinue TSP us& based on the threat. The
              Intelligence officer, chemical officer, and the surgeon act as
              advisors to the commander in making his decision if a vesicant
              agent threat exists (for example, the enemy having VORiCAnt
              agents in the combat zone or the probability of their us*).
              2. Application of Topical Skin Protectant
roteqt4Lnt is a physical barrier which roducte
              exposure of protected skin to mustard. Therefore, the
              effectiveness of the product is strictly dependent on the
              thickness of the film, the length of time between rea6pplio&tions
              and agent exposure (wear time), and whether the product la
              present on the body area exposed to the vesicant agent.
                   a. Thickness of Topical Skin Protectant. Under normal
              conditions, TSP is effective when spread over the akin at the
              rate of 31 grams (approximately I ounce) to the nock, wrinta,
              an,klez-lower legs (area around the top of the boots), and back of
              the hands. This amount of TSP will product a coating on the skin
              which in colorless, but detectable by touch. A second ounce of
              TSP may be applied to the arm pite, groin &re&, *reacts of the
              buttocks, and the waint. A rule *9 thumb for measuring I ounce of
              the TSP is to xqueeze out an &mount of the product from the
              package that is the diameter and the length of the middle
              finger.
                   b. Wear Time. The TS? wears off with time. Factors which
              may have an influence on the maximum wear time include TSP drying
              out; abrasion (and removal) of TSP by clothing or other contact,
              such as Vand or dirt; washing TSP off through heavy awwating or
              other wetting conditions; or Intentional decontamination after
              suspected agent exposure. Normally, TSP lx *ft*otive for 6 hours
              under hot climatic conditions with no exposure to adverse
              environmental interferences and minimal physical abrasion of the
              TSP coating. The TS? needs to be reapplied when the tacky
              feeling of the TS? is no longer present; when %be coating is

Document 10 f:/Week-36/BX003205/USE OF CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENT TOPICAL SKIL PROTECTANT/cover sheet for document transmisson:12249609314158
Control Fields 17
File Room = sep96_declassified
File Cabinet = Week-36
Box ID = BX003205
Unit = OTSG
Parent Organization = HSC
Folder Title = USE OF CHEMICAL WARFARE AGENT TOPICAL SKIL PROTECTANT
Folder Seq # = 13
Subject = COVER SHEET FOR DOCUMENT TRANSMISSON
Document Seq # = 2
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