Decontamination field kits

Not usually necessary in the field. If necessary for enclosed areas, use HTH, STB, household bleach, caustic soda, or DS2. Decontaminate liquid agent on the skin with the M258A1, M258, or M291 skin decontaminating kit. Decontaminate individual equipment with the M280 individual equipment decontamination kit. 

M256-Series Chemical Agent Detector Kit A kit used by military personnel to detect and identify field concentrations of nerve, blister or blood agent vapors. The kit consists of twelve samplers/detectors and a packet of M8 detector paper. It is used at the squad, crew or section level to detect and identify field concentrations of nerve, blister or blood agents vapors. It is usually used to determine when it is safe to unmask, to locate and identify chemical hazards, and to monitor decontamination effectiveness. 

Decontaminants. Supertropical bleach slurry DS2 soln hot soapy water. Liq agent on the skin may be decontaminated by use of the skin decontamination pad in the M13 Individual Decontaminating and Reimpregnating Kit, or the new M258 Skin Decontamination Kit Persistency. Depends upon munitions used and the weather. Heavily splashed liq persists for long periods of time under avg weather conditions Refs 1) Anon, Field Manual—Military Chemistry and Chemical Compounds , Army FM 3-9, Air Force AFR 355-7 (1975), 3-5 2) B.L. 

Sorbent Decontamination. The sorbent program includes development of personal wipedown systems and spraydown operations. The objective is to improve upon the carbonaceous and ion exchange mixes in current use and to eliminate DS2 from the spraydown operations. A stable, environmentally acceptable, noncorrosive sorbent that is effective over a wide temperature range will permit decontamination of personal equipment, key areas of vehicles, and weapon systems. Short-term objectives include development of carbon cloth technology for the removal of contamination from skin. Longer-term objectives include testing and procurement of sorbent-based decontamination kits for field use. 

Though an ideal decontaminant may be difficult to attain, many alternatives exist that are readily available and meet many basic requirements, van Hooidonk et al. (1983) evaluated a variety of household products as decontaminants for VX, soman, and sulfur mustard. His paper provides an excellent comparison of these readily available decontaminants to include flour, soapy water, talcum powder, and tissue paper. We have selected several other candidate decontaminants that are under investigation, in advanced development, or currently fielded. These include the currently fielded U.S. Department of Defense skin decontaminants (M291 Skin Decontamination Kit [SDK], 0.5% hypochlorite, and 1% soapy water). Reactive Skin Decontaminant Lotion (RSDL), Diphoterine, Sandia Laboratory s Decontamination Foam, and the Decontamination Sponge. 

RSDL is currently manufactured by E-Z-EM, Inc (Lake Success, NY) and was selected to gradually replace the M291 kit for U.S. military. The Milestone C decision was made on March 16, 2007. RSDL is currently fielded by Australia, Belgium, Canada, Ireland, the Netherlands, New Zealand, Slovenia, and Sweden. This lotion has the benefit of being a wet decontamination system, which is generally more effective than dry systems. 

An improved version of the World War I orchard sprayer decontamination apparatus was fielded to provide ground and equipment decontamination. It could also be used for plain water showers for soldiers (Figure 2-39). For treatment of gas casualties, the CWS standardized the M5 Protective Ointment Kit. This kit came in a small, waterproof container and held four tubes of M5 Protective Ointment wrapped in cheesecloth and a tube of BAL (British anti-Lewisite) Eye Ointment. The protective ointment was used to liberate chlorine to neutralize vesicant agents on the skin. The BAL ointment neutralized Lewisite in and around the eye by changing it to a nontoxic compound. Over 25 million of the kits were procured for the army.26 35 105 Biological Warfare Program... 

The M291 resin kit and 0.5% hypochlorite for chemical casualty decontamination are currently fielded by the U.S. military. The M291 kit is new, whereas hypochlorite solution has been around since World War I. The M291 kit is our best universal dry decontaminant for skin. Fresh 0.5% hypochlorite solution with an alkaline pH is our universal liquid decontaminating agent and is recommended for all biological agents. 

Decontamination of the casualty using an M291 kit does not obviate the need for decontamination at a field medical treatment facility (MTF). 

Decontamination procedures must be well known to all chemical workers. The training class should present the M258 and M291 kits and their contents and make clear the use of household bleach in the decontamination process. Current doctrine specifies that in a tactical environment 0.5% bleach be used for skin decontamination. In depot operations, however, 5% bleach is used. This stronger concentration may be used because workers exposed at the depot will be decontaminated and then thoroughly rinsed in a fixed facility in a relatively short time. Soldiers in the field, however, may be decontaminated several times and not be rinsed thoroughly for several hours. Repeated applications of 5% bleach without a complete and thorough rinse will cause skin injury. 

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