Skin decontaminants

Haut-entglftungsmlttel, n. skin decontaminant, -entgiftungssalbe, /. decontaminating ointment. -farbe, /. color of the skin, -farb-stoff, m. skin pigment, -gift, n. (Mil.) skin poison, vesicant. 

STB, fire, 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. 

Decontamination Use large amounts of water or DS2 on equipment. Because of the rapid reaction of CX with the skin, decontamination will not be entirely effective after pain occurs. Nevertheless, decontaminate as rapidly as possible by flushing the area with large amounts of water to remove any agent that has not reacted with the skin. 

Decontamination Complete cleansing of the skin with soap and water at the earliest opportunity. If washing is impossible, use the M258A1, M258, or M291 skin decontamination kit. Symptoms may appear as late as 36 h after contact exposure, even if the skin is washed within an hour. In fact, a delay in onset of several hours is typical. Use this time to prepare for the possibility of a widespread outbreak 6-24 h after the attack. Decontaminate bulk quantities of BZ with caustic alcohol solutions. If BZ or other belladonnoids are used as free bases, decontamination will require a solvent, such as 25% ethanol, 0.1 N hydrochloric acid, or 5% acetic acid. 

Flush eyes with water immediately. Use, the M258A1, M258, or M291 skin decontamination kit for liquid agent on the skin. Decontaminate individual equipment with the M280 individual equipment decontamination kit. Calcium hypochlorite (HTH), supertropical bleach (STB), household bleach, caustic soda, dilute alkali solutions, or decontaminating solution number 2 (DS2) are effective on equipment. Use steam and ammonia or hot, soapy water in a confined area. 

Reactive oximes and their salts, such as potassium 2,3-butanedione monoximate found in commercially available Reactive Skin Decontaminant Lotion (RSDL), are extremely effective at rapidly detoxifying sulfur vesicants. Some chloroisocyanurates, similar to those found in the Canadian Aqueous System for Chemical-Biological Agent Decontamination (CAS-CAD), are effective at detoxifying sulfur vesicants, and so is oxone, a peroxymonosulfate triple salt. 

Reactive oximes and their salts, such as potassium 2,3-butanedione monoximate found in commercially available Reactive Skin Decontaminant Lotion (RSDL), are extremely effective at rapidly detoxifying arsenic vesicants. 

Casualties/personnel Speed in decontamination is absolutely essential. Because of the rapid onset of effects and the speed with which urticants are absorbed through the skin, decontamination will not be entirely effective by the time the casualty experiences pain and blanching occurs. However, decontamination must still be done as rapidly as possible postexposure. Remove all clothing as it may continue to emit "trapped" agent vapor after contact with the vapor cloud has ceased. Shower using copious amounts of soap and water. Ensure that the hair has been washed and rinsed to remove potentially trapped vapor. To be effective, decontamination must be completed within 2 minutes of exposure. If there is a potential that the eyes have been exposed to urticants, irrigate with water or 0.9% saline solution for a minimum of 15 minutes. 

Matousek J. Sorption-mechanical principle in skin decontamination. In Sohns T., Voicu V.A. (Eds.) NBC Risks Current Capabilities and Future Perspectives for Protection. Kluwer Academic Publishers, Dordrecht - Boston - London 1999, pp 265-269. 

Wester, R. C. et al., In vivo and in vitro percutaneous absorption and skin decontamination of arsenic from water and soil, Fund. Appl. Toxicol., 20, 336, 1993. 

Decontamination Not usually necessary in the field. If necessary for enclosed areas, use HTH, STB, household bleach, caustic soda, or DS2. (Decontamination liquid agent on skin with M258A1, M258, or M259 skin decontamination kit. Decontaminate individual equipment with M280 decontamination kit). 

Decontamination Decontaminate eyes and skin. Even though this chemical agent is highly volatile, pay particular attention to the eyes. Remove wet, contaminated clothing and the underlying skin decontaminated with water. 

Nerve agent intoxication requires rapid decontamination to prevent further absorption by the patient and to prevent exposure to others, ventilation when necessary, administration of antidotes, as well as supportive therapy. Skin decontamination is not necessary with exposure to vapor alone, but clothing should be removed to get rid of any trapped vapor. With nerve agents, there can be high airway resistance due to bronchoconstric-tion and secretions, and initial ventilation is often difficult. The restriction will decrease with atropine administration. Copious secretions which maybe thickened by atropine also impede ventilatory actions and will require frequent suctioning. For inhalation exposure to nerve agents, ventilation support is essential. 

M258A1 Skin Decontamination Kit A kit issued to each soldier containing wipes with solutions that will neutralize most nerve and blister agents. 

M291 Skin Decontamination Kit This kit is used to decontaminate the soldier s hands, face, ears, and neck. Packets in the kit consist of a foil-laminated fiber material containing a reactive resin. It replaces the M258A1 Skin Decontamination Kit. 

Skin decontamination is performed last and generally begins with the least aggressive techniques and the mildest cleansing agents. The following steps are usually effective for intact skin decontamination efforts ... 

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