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

Chemical Defense Equipmentdecontaminable litter (Figure 17-40) was developed toreplace the canvas litters currently in use. The decontaminablelitter is made of a monofilament polypropylenewith high tensile strength and low elasticity. Thefabric does not absorb liquid chemical agents and isnot degraded by decontaminating solutions. The fabricis flame retardant, highly rip resistant, and treated towithstand exposure to weather and sunlight. It has ahoneycomb weave, which results in a rough, no-slipsurface through which liquids easily pass (40% of thesurface is open). 40The litter’s carrying handles retract into the metalpole frame for a closed total length of 83.5 in (212.1 cm),to allow for loading the litter onto the UH-60 helicopter.The handle lengths are adjustable to conform toNATO standards as well as to allow for litter bearers’comfort. The aluminum poles are designed to providedirect gripping surfaces for litter stanchions as well.All metal parts have been painted with chemical agentresistant coating. 40SUMMARYAn integrated system of available chemical defenseequipment is necessary to adequately protect militarypersonnel. This system includes the following principalelements:• Real-time detection and warning, preferablyfrom remote sensors, to allow personnel moretime to assume the appropriate protectiveposture and provide for the identification ofthe specific agent.• Personal protective equipment consisting ofa properly fitted mask and overgarment withgloves and boots as required. This equipmentis the most critical component of chemicaldefense equipment, the first line of defense.• Collective protection, which is necessary foroptimal combat casualty care in a contaminatedenvironment, whether the casualty’sinjuries are from exposure to CB weaponsalone or are combined with injuries fromconventional weapons.• Decontamination, which is required for personneland equipment to maintain combatoperations in a contaminated environment.Although the focus of this chapter is not on themedical treatment of chemical casualties, it is criticalthat medical personnel develop a good understandingof chemical defense equipment. Some medical personnelwill need to provide care in the contaminated area,others will need to know how to operate equipmentin the patient decontamination area, and still otherswill need to know the limitations of the collectiveprotective environment. Without an adequate understandingof their protective equipment and propertraining in its use, medical personnel will becomecasualties of the same agents that have incapacitatedthose they treat.ACKNOWLEDGMENTThe authors thank the following organizations and experts for their technical assistance and generoushelp in illustrating and preparing this chapter: the Joint Program Management Office for Nuclear BiologicalChemical Collective Protection; the Joint Program Management Office—Decontamination, Marine CorpsSystem; the Joint Program Management Office—Individual Protection; Jeffrey S Hofmann, Deputy ProgramManager, Respirator Engineering and Acquisition Team, ECBC-RDECOM; SFC Jeffrey Dawson, US ArmyMedical Research Institute of Chemical Defense; SFC Larry Harris, US Army (Ret); and Peter Hurst.REFERENCES1. O’Hern MR, Dashiell TR, Tracy MF. Chemical defense equipment. In: Sidell FR, Takafuji ET, Franz DR, eds. MedicalAspects of Chemical and Biological Warfare. In: Zajtchuk R, Bellamy RF, eds. Textbook of Military Medicine. Washington,DC: Department of the Army, Office of The Surgeon General, Borden Institute; 1997: Chap 16.2. US Army Armament Munitions and Chemical Command. Chemical Defensive Equipment (General Information Booklet).Rock Island, Ill: Materiel Management Directorate, HQ, US Army Armament Munitions and Chemical Command;1984.589