Protection and Decontamination

Another V-agent of interest is Vx, called "V sub x." Another designation for Vx is "V-gas." The properties of Vx are similar to those of VX. It is nearly lOx more volatile than VX, but is very persistent in comparison to the G-agents. The molecular weight of Vx is 211.2. Listed values are calculated, information on this agent is limited. The physiological action, protection, and decontaminants for Vx are the same as for VX. 

Catalytic bioscavengers will be part of the arsenal of medical countermeasures for prophylaxis and treatments of OP poisoning in the very near future. Next, gene therapy will offer the possibility of transitory production of humanized OP-degrading enzymes in the body. Multiple enzyme associations will be part of active topical skin protectants and decontamination tools. 

Barrett, Gloria, Program Manager, Enhanced Soldier Systems. 1999. Presentation to Advisory Panel on Strategies to Protect the Health of Deployed U.S. Forces, Task 2.3 Physical Protection and Decontamination, Soldier Systems Center, Soldier and Biological Chemical Command, Natick, Mass., November 16. 

The tables in this appendix are reprinted from a previous National Research Council report, Strategies to Protect the Health of Deployed U.S. Forces Force Protection and Decontamination.1 They provide brief descriptions of both chemical agents (Tables B.l through B.3) and biological agents (Tables B.4 through B.7), as follows ... 

Cleanup methods, self protection and decontamination, health hazards, and wildlife first aid. 

Techniques for first-aid responders and employees. Universal precautions, exposure control plans, exposure incidents, personal protection, and decontamination. 

In 1948, the army partially standardized sarin and the year after, tabun. In 1948, the army also issued a new circular116 on G-series nerve agents and a technical bulletin117 on the treatment of nerve agent poisoning.3 The circular provided current information on detection, protection, and decontamination of nerve agents. For detection, the M9 and the improved M9A1 detection kits, standardized in 1947, could detect vapor after a complicated procedure ... 

Chemical defense includes individual and collective protection and decontamination. The goal of individual and collective protection is to use clothing ensembles and respirators as well as collective filtration systems and shelters to insulate forces from chemical agents. Decontamination is essential to return personnel and equipment to normal operating conditions. 

Rut ser gloves worn applicators qpparently mlnlinized hemd exposure DDVP application euid handling resulted in 0.024 pg/cs /hr. Hand contamination accounted for 0.9% of tot d. dermal exposure (Table 1) as oompared with 87% in carbaryl exposure studies (11, 13) where hand protection was not worn. The fact that DDVP was recovered from the hands of the lioators in all 20 treatments denonstrated the need to stress hand protection and decontamination even when ruliher gloves are worn. 

Key words decontamination wipes, detection, protection and decontamination of threat agents, multifunctional materials, reactive surface technology, plasma... 

Dr, Frederick Cox, (Acting) Division Chief CB Protection and Decontamination... 

The answer to the basic tactical question from the American point of view was to mount an overwhelmingly superior force, which would mean using all the men in every combat-ready unit which could be assembled in the United Kingdom and which could be provided with transport to the Continent, The technical services in turn would have to accumulate sufficient materiel to support such a force. The CWS ETO portion of the materiel project involved three basic categories of supply (i) individual and collective gas warfare protective and decontaminating items for the entire force (2) weapons and ammunition for chemical mortar units plus flame and smoke weapons and equipment for all combat forces (3) and special operational requirements such as smoke protection for the beachhead. The first job was... 

As for the assistance offers made by States Parties, the workshop noted a number of examples of what they had offered, which included international or regional training courses, or national-assistance offers (including procedures, and equipment for detection, protection, and decontamination). Forty-four assistance offers had been received from States Parties by... 

CB defence is the adoption of measures intended to minimise the effects of CBW, to enable its victims to survive, and to allow military operations to continue, even in a contaminated environment. Chemical defence comprises four broad activities - reconnaissance, personal protection, collective protection and decontamination. Biological defence may also entail immunisation against potential BW agents. 

There are thus a number of steps that can be taken to minimise or deal with the effects of a chemical attack. All have disadvantages none is foolproof. Moreover, even if all forms of protection and decontamination work perfectly they still carry operational penalties, in terms of diminished performance and reduced availability of personnel and kit. However good a nation s defences, a chemical attack on its forces would still have a measurable effect on operations. 

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