This paper explores a brief overview of a chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear (CBRN) decontamination primarily in reference to military operations. Decontamination refers to the removal of hazardous material from individuals, equipment, and locations. Additional topics covered include decontamination concepts, purpose of decontamination, methods of decontamination, and levels of decontamination. Decontamination Overview Decontamination or decon simply put is the reduction or removal of contaminants from individuals, equipment and locations. Decon is also used to restrict the spread of contamination to other areas. Rapid physical removal of agents from a contaminated person is the most important action in decon. Physical removal includes scraping or blotting off visible agent from the skin, removing clothing, use of adsorbents to soak up the agent, and flushing or showering with large quantities of water (SBCCOM, 2000). Once contained to only the known affected area, decon teams can enter and properly remove and dispose of the contaminant waste. Contaminants can come in multiple forms such as solid, liquid, and gases. The solid form often comes in a fine dust (FM 3-5, 1993). An example of this would be anthrax which was used in a bioterrorism plot in 2001 by being sent through the U.S. postal service. Liquid contaminants can come in varying levels of thickness or can also be a mist of small droplets of liquid being suspended in the air. Contaminants in the form of gas oftentimes travel with more ease due to wind factors in the area. This can also cause the release of gas contaminants to be less predictable and more difficult to control. Decon Concepts Field Manuals 3-5 and 3-11 provide guidance for d... ... middle of paper ... ...n: Immediate, operational, and thorough as well as an explanation and key points for each. This paper should allow the reader to understand the uses of decon, key points in reference to the concepts of decon, and fundamental parts of the levels of decon. References Ernest H. Braue Jr, Charles H. Boardman, Orr and Charles G. Hurst (n.d.), Decontamination of Chemical Casualties, Retrieved 18 May 2014 from http://www.hsdl.org/?view&did=18072 Guidelines for Mass Casualty Decontamination during a Terrorist Chemical Agent Incident (2000), The Air University, Retrieved 18 May 2014 from http://www.au.af.mil/au/awc/awcgate/army/sbccom_decon.pdf United States (1993). NBC Decontamination: Field Manual 3-5, Washington, DC: Headquarters, Dept. of the Army United States (2006). CBRN Decontamination: Field Manual 3-11.5, Washington, DC: Headquarters, Dept. of the Army
3Brophy, L. (1959). The Chemical Warfare Service (1st ed.). Washington: Office of the Chief of
...ontamination methods and permit training people in radiological safety and decon procedure. When the troops of operation crossroads returned to Pearl Harbor many of them became sick the doctors could not figure out why. Some of them died a slow death from the radiation that they were exposed to during the operation.
US, Army Training and Doctrine Command. (2004). Field Manual 3-11.19: MULTISERVICE TACTICS, TECHNIQUES AND PROCEDURES FOR NUCLEAR, BIOLOGICAL, AND CHEMICAL RECONNIASSNCE. Fort Monroe, Virginia: US, Army Training and Doctrine Command.
From the creation of the Army’s Technical Escort Unit, there has always been one mission that has never changed; the removal, transportation and disposal of chemical weapons. “The U.S. Army Technical Escort Unit was formed in 1944 and is the longest, continuously active, military chemical unit in existence... The unit was formed as a group of specialist to escort chemical weapons”(Cashman, 2000, p. 104). Although this mission type has not faded, the overall mission of these units has expanded to a larger arena.
Wright III, B. (1998, November). The Chemical Warfare Service Prepares for World War II. Retrieved from http://www.almc.army.mil/alog/issues/NovDec98/MS274.htm
Before the CDTF was built Soldiers had live toxic training, but it had to be conducted outdoors as it represented the most effective training. Since 1973 the use of training with live chemical agents stops due to environmental concerns and low safety regulations (Unknown, 2011). In 1981the US Army Chemical School (USACMLS) plan and develop a training facility to be used indoors and safer for the environment and the Soldiers. The construction of the new training facility was 14.9 million dollars and it was finished in 1986 at Fort McClellan, Alabama. (Unknown, Transition Force, United States Army Garrison-FT McClellan, Alabama) The first chemical class to utilize the new CDTF was on March 1987. Thus started the age of Chemical (Unknown, 2011) Soldier’s being able to have assurance that their equipment is more than capable of protecting them in a chemical attack. Many allied nations have used and received training from our CDTF but no other like Germany. In 1988, Germany’s decontamination trai...
The Chemical Corp is made up of many unconventional units all with unique training that is specifically tailored to their mission. A mission most people would never conceive to volunteer for. One of those groups is the Special Forces Chemical Detachment or (CDA’s). This specialized group is better known as a Chemical Reconnaissance Detachment (CRD) or a Chemical Decontamination Detachment (CDD). Each team is constructed in a unique manner, their purpose each individually crucial, created at a time when the world it most.
"Chemical Warfare Agents - Resources on the health effects from chemical weapons, emergency response & treatment, counterterrorism, and emergency preparedness.au.af." Specialized Information Services - Reliable information on toxicology, environmental health, chemistry, HIV/AIDS, and minority health. N.p., n.d. Web. 17 May 2010.
Special Containment Procedures: Containment area is to be kept behind two reverse-pressure airlocks. Chemical shower sterilization, full contained-atmosphere haz-mat suits, and 24-hour post-interaction quarantine and testing are mandatory for all personnel entering containment area. Should containment be breached, the blast door for the containment and research area will seal, and chemical agent ZEER-217-11 will be pumped into the air.
Fries, A. A., & West, C. J. (1921). Chemical warfare,. New York [etc.: McGraw-Hill book company, inc..
An IED that is rendered safe has been separated into its subcomponents, analyzed by the bomb technician to ensure the threat from the IED has been mitigated, and disassembled to the point that it is no longer an IED. Hazardous material (HAZMAT) may be rendered safe by a disposal operation, which may include destruction or burning. There are many individual tasks within a bomb technician’s chosen course of action but they will differ significantly for each IED encountered or with each disposal operation conducted. Therefore, Render Safe Procedures (RSP) is a term specific to the bomb community and does not refer to any specific delineated procedural step. An appropriate RSP is one in which the bomb technician accomplishes the above actions in a way that results in a safe and successful execution. The goal of this course is to recertify PSBTs and SABTs by testing their proficiency on basic bomb technician knowledge and skills. During the course, we will also furnish
Multidervice Tactics, Techniques, and Proceedures for Nuclear, Biological, and Chemical (NBC) Protection (FM 3-11.4). (2003).
Also, MSDS had given how to protect equipment, the condition necessary to stabilize Thallium (I) chloride, toxicological information, how to treated waste of Thallium(I) chloride after used and procedures by Radiation Safety Officer or by a consult with the state, local, or federal regulation for appropriate disposable. If I workers in an in a warehouse, I would a wear equip safety suit as advised in MSDS to avoid Thallium (I) chloride ever contacted in my ingestion system, skin, eye and Chronic exposure. The MSDS also advise should store Thallium(I) chloride in 20-25 C. The handling of Thallium(I) chloride needs a syringe shields and tongs are recommended. As a fireman, Thallium (I) chloride is disregarded as a fire hazard or explosive hazards. In the case of fire, firemen were advised wear protective suit that can withstand high-pressure mode. If I work as a medical person treating someone, MSDS has first aid techniques to treat if Thallium(I) chloride contract skin or eye by use water to wash it off. However, MSDS doesn’t have a method to treat if Thallium(I) chloride get inside your
casualty," textbook of military medicine: Medical aspects of chemical and biological warfare. Retrieved from http://www.gulflink.osd.mil/bw_ii/bw_s02.htm
U.S. Army (Director). (1986). Chemical Decontamination Training Facility (CDTF): Vanguard for Chemical Defense Training. United States: The United States Army.