Medical Aspects of Chemical Warfare (2008) - The Black Vault

Chemical Defense Equipmentworn for a maximum of 45 days, and provide up to 24hours of protection against CB challenges within thestated maximum wear time. 22Two distinct versions of the suit exist: type II andtype VII. The JSLIST type II overgarment (see Figure17-13) has an integrated hood, bellows-type pockets,high-waist trousers, adjustable suspenders, an adjustablewaistband, and a waist-length jacket. This designimproves system compatibility, user comfort, andsystem acceptance by wearer, as well as maximizingindividual equipment compatibility. The JSLIST type IIis used for most applications. The JSLIST overgarmenttype VII has a similar design but no integrated hood;this type also has eyelets with a drawstring at the legcuff. Type VII coats and trousers must be paired tomaintain their effectiveness. It is used by special operationspersonnel and, on an interim basis, by combatvehicle crew personnel. 21,23Protective Boots and GlovesA service member wearing the chemical protectiveboots and gloves discussed here will soon realize thatmobility is compromised by the boots and tactile abilityis degraded by the gloves. Also, the protective overbootscurrently worn by service members, althoughproviding good protection against chemical warfareagents, cause serious risk of falls because of the lackof adequate traction, and their weight contributesto the increased fatigue from complete protectionensemble wear. Furthermore, the overboots do notprotect against heat or cold; in some cases they maycontribute to medical problems such as trench foot,frostbite, or other cold weather injuries. The militaryhopes to develop a new boot that provides chemicalprotection while being easy to don, comfortable, ableto provide steady footing, and capable of rapid andthorough decontamination for reuse. The current protectivegloves, in addition to degrading tactility, alsofail to protect against heat or cold. Failing to wear awork glove over the protective glove may increase thechance of cold weather injuries. 1,21Black vinyl overboot. The black vinyl overboot (Figure17-14) is used to protect the individual’s combatboots against all known chemical and biological agents,vectors, and radioactive (alpha and beta) particles. Theoverboots also provide protection from the environmentaleffects of snow, rain, and mud. However, vinyloverboots issued and worn for environmental protectionshould not be used for CBR protection; a new pairshould be issued with CBR protective gear. Followingcontamination by liquid agent, the overboots willprovide protection for a limited time. Subsequently,they should be decontaminated with a 5% householdFig. 17-14. The black vinyl overboot.Photograph: Courtesy of the Chemical Casualty Care Division,US Army Medical Research Institute of ChemicalDefense, Aberdeen Proving Ground, Md.bleach or a 5% high-test hypochlorite solution. If signsof deterioration occur after decontamination, the overbootsshould be replaced. 21 Additional informationabout wear-times and protective capabilities can befound in Field Manual 3-11.4, Multiservice Tactics, andProcedures for NBC Protection. 14Alternative footwear system. The alternativefootwear system (AFS) is a lightweight, low-volumeoverboot for use by ground and shipboard forces. AFSis worn over standard combat boots and provides aminimum of 24 hours protection from chemical agentsin liquid and vapor form. The overboot has an antislipridge tread pattern for improved traction, an antistaticsurface, and fully sealed and vulcanized seams, as wellas three sets of buttons with a butyl rubber securingstrap for each set (Figure 17-15). The adjustable securingstrap is symmetrical and can be released fromeither side of the overboot. Other features includemobility, agility, and reduced combat load. 15,21Chemical protective glove set. The chemical protectiveglove set consists of an outer glove for chemicalprotection and an inner glove for perspiration absorption.The outer glove is made of impermeable butylrubber, and the inner glove is made of white cotton.The gloves come in three thicknesses: 7, 14, and 25mil. Service members such as medical, teletypist, andelectronic repair personnel, whose tasks require extremetactility and sensitivity and who do not exposethe gloves to harsh treatment, use the 7-mil glove set.Aviators, vehicle mechanics, weapons crews, and otherpersonnel whose tasks require tactility and sensitivityuse the 14-mil glove set. Personnel who perform close573