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

Chemical Defense Equipmentcollective protection equipment is used with both sheltersystems. The entire composite hospital ensembleconsists of expandable tentage, passageways, environmentalcontrol units, and International Organizationfor Standardization shelters. 40The M28 collective protection equipment consistsof the following items: end section liners; center sectionliners; 32.5-ft liners; 19.5-ft liners; vestibule linersfabricated from a plastic film that is resistant to liquidand vapor agents; a protective entrance airlock (Figure17-33) for ambulatory personnel made from a butylcoatedmaterial and hung in a collapsible aluminumframe, creating a triangular shape; a tunnel airlock forlitter-borne patients consisting of a collapsible framewith entry and exit doors at opposite ends fabricatedfrom a CBR protective cover; a supply airlock formission resupply while operating under collectiveprotection; a hermetically sealed filter canister andthe accessory package, which support the purge requirementduring collective protective entry; and a aportable self-contained recirculation filter designed tofilter any chemical agent vapors brought in throughthe entry or exit. 40,41Collectively Protected Expeditionary Medical SupportThe US Air Force uses the collectively protectedexpeditionary medical support (CP EMEDS) system(Figure 17-34), a direct replacement for the chemicallyhardened air transportable hospital. CP EMEDS providesan air transportable medical facility that allowshealthcare providers, support staff, and patients tointeract in a protected environment without the needfor individual protection equipment. Composed of anAir Force small shelter system with a CB liner to hardenthe shelter, CP EMEDS provides filtered air with slightpositive pressure to keep out vapor. The system wasdesigned to be adaptable and can be deployed in avariety of configurations, ranging from a single 32-ftshelter to a complex of ten 32-ft shelters with a 25-bedhospital; its capabilities can be extended to includesurgical operations and additional capacity. CP EMEDSis capable of providing medical care to a populationof 3,000 to 5,000 service members. 40,42Chemical and Biological Protected ShelterThe chemical and biological protective shelter isdesigned to provide a highly mobile, 300-sq-ft, contamination-free,environmentally controlled work areafor forward deployed medical treatment. This shelter isemployed at levels I and II medical treatment facilitiesand forward surgical teams. The system is comprisedof a modified high-mobility multipurpose wheeledvehicle, lightweight multipurpose shelter, air beamshelter, and a high-mobility trailer with a 10-kW tacti-Fig. 17-33. The M28 collective protection equipment is outfittedwith multiple entry points capable of receiving litter andambulatory casualties. These entry points function as positivepressure airlocks; thoroughly decontaminated casualtiesare directed through the airlocks for an air purge and decontaminationcheck prior to receiving medical treatment.Photograph: Courtesy of the Joint Program ManagementOffice for Nuclear Biological Chemical Collective Protection,Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren, Dahlgren, Va.Fig. 17-34. The collectively protected expeditionary medicalsupport system provides protection from chemical andbiological warfare agents to health care providers and patientsin a contaminated environment. The system providesfiltered air that allows occupants to operate without theneed for individual protective equipment while inside theshelter. It has been designed for maximum versatility andcan be configured to meet the demands of many missionrequirements.Photograph: Courtesy of the Joint Program ManagementOffice for Nuclear Biological Chemical Collective Protection,Naval Surface Warfare Center Dahlgren, Dahlgren, Va.585