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

Medical Aspects of Chemical Warfareing chemical and biological warfare agents on theinterior of aircraft, vehicles, ships, and buildings.This system will have two increments: increment Iwill provide capabilities to decontaminate interiorareas and equipment, and increment II will focuson improving decontamination processes, speed,efficacy, TIM decontamination, and other systemcapabilities. 32–35COLLECTIVE PROTECTIONCollective protection (COLPRO) provides a protectivecapability to personnel who must operate inan environment where wearing IPE is not possible.COLPRO is typically incorporated into chemically protectedmedical treatment facilities, command centers,or rest areas. The use of COLPRO allows for sustainedoperations in a contaminated environment.COLPRO systems are categorized according totheir tactical application: fixed-site, transportable,and mobile. Fixed-site COLPRO consists of hardened,semihardened, or unhardened systems. TransportableCOLPRO shelters can be moved as needed to achievemission requirements. Transportable shelters are generallyunhardened. Mobile COLPRO shelters includefacilities that are armored or soft-skinned; this type ofsystem may or may not have the capability to be usedon the move. Mobile systems may not have integratedairlocks or contamination control areas. COLPRO sheltersare constructed of rigid-wall, soft-wall, or hybridmaterials and should include design features that willfacilitate tactical functions without the restrictions ofIPE. 14, 29 This section addresses COLPRO systems thathave been specifically designed for, or systems thatare ideally suited for, applications in health servicesupport.Chemically Protected Deployable Medical SystemThe chemically protected deployable medical system(DEPMEDS) was fielded in 2003 under the MissionForce 2000 configuration, which protects 236 beds ofa 298-bed DEPMEDS hospital (Figure 17-32). All MissionForce 2000 chemically protected DEPMEDS willbe upgraded to the medical reengineering initiativeconfiguration, which protects a complete 248-bed DEP-MEDS combat support hospital. This configurationalso allows simultaneous split-base hospital operationsthrough 84-bed and 164-bed hospital companies. The84-bed company will use the Army Medical Departmentshelter system. The 164-bed company will usethe tent, extendable, modular personnel system. The248-bed DEPMEDS combat support hospital uses bothtypes of shelter from each hospital company. Chemicallyprotected DEPMEDS consists of the M28 collectiveprotection equipment, designed to protect areaswithin the hospital from CB contamination. The M28abFig. 17-32. (a) The chemically protected deployable medical system as shown in the 236-bed configuration is capable of sustainingcontinuous operations for up to 72 hours in a contaminated environment. This system provides medical personnel acontamination-free work space allowing them to operate without wearing cumbersome individual protective equipment items.The system is also equipped with two 12-person latrines and 20,000 gallons of water. (b) Intensive care units in the systemare equipped to perform complex lifesaving medical procedures. This figure illustrates the inside of a treatment unit.Photographs: Courtesy of the Joint Program Management Office for Nuclear Biological Chemical Collective Protection, NavalSurface Warfare Center Dahlgren, Dahlgren, Va.584