Block V - Chemical, Biological and Radiological Warfare Flashcards
What is chemical warfare?
the employment of chemical agents that are intended for use in military operations to kill, seriously injure, or incapacitate personnel due to their physiological effect.
State the four types of chemical agents. Explain
Nerve - Liquid casualty agents that disrupt nerve impulses to the body while damaging body functions rather than tissue. e.g. Sarin (GB), Tabun (GA), SOMAN (GD), and VX.
Blister - Liquid or solid agents that cause inflammation, blisters, and general destruction of tissues which often results in temportary blindness and/or death. e.g. Distilled mustartd (HD), Lewisite (L), Phosgene Oxime (CX), and Leveinstein Mustard (HL)
Blood - Gaseous casualty agents that attack the enzymes carrying oxygen in the blood stream. Rapid breathing or choking may occur due to lack of oxygen in the blood e.g. Hydrogen Cyanide (AC), Cyanogen Chloride (CK), and Arsine (SA).
Choking - Gaseous or liquid casualty agents with initial symptoms that include; tears, dry throat, nausea, vomiting, and headache. the lungs can become filled with fluid, making the victim feel as if they are drowning, causing breathing to become rapid and shallow. e.g. Phosgene (CG) and Diphosgene.
What is M9 Chemical Agent Detector Paper?
Detects the presence of liquid chemical agents by turning a red or reddish color, it does not detect chemical agents vapors.
What is Atropine/2-PAM-chloride?
Used as specific therapy for nerve agent casualties, they are issued for intramuscular injection, self-aid or first aid.
What is Biological Warfare?
is the use of agents to cause disease, sickness or death to reduce the effectiveness of opposing combatant forces. The basic division in biological agents is b/t pathogens and toxins.
What are Pathogens and Toxins?
Pathogens - bacteria, rickettsia, viruses, fungi, protozoa and prions.
Toxins - the organisms (source) that produce them and the physiological affects the toxins cause in humans.
What is Chemical/Biological IPE? Explain.
Individual Protective Equipment - training and awareness of personnel is the primary way to limit the chemical and biological warfare impact
- Protective mask MCU-2P w/ components (C-2 canister filter)
- advanced chemical protective garment (ACPG)
- Chemical protective gloves and liners
- chemical protective over boots and laces
- Skin decontamination kit
What is Radiological Warfare?
is the deliberate use of radiological weapons to produce widespread injury and death of all life.
Explain the five types of nuclear explosions.
High altitude air bursts - excess of 100,000 ft in altitude, w/ ionosphere disruptions and EMP.
Air Burst - fireball does not reach surface. Vacuum created collects debris caused by the severe blast damage resulting in radiation fallout.
Surface Burst - worst fallout due to fireball touching the surface which results in massive radioactive fallout.
Shallow Underwater Burst - small fireball and blast wave however, it causes large waves and water contamination.
Deep underwater Burst - similar to shallow but w/ less visual effect and yields greater contaminated water.
Shipboard shielding stations are categorized as either ready or deep-shelter stations.
Describe the following effects of nuclear explosion.
a.) Blast
Can be Primary or Secondary.
Primary is direct action of the air shock wave on body. The greater the weapon size, the greater the blast wave’s effective range, w/ increase of casualties.
Secondary injuries are caused by collapsing building and by timber and other debris flung about by blast.
Describe the following effects of nuclear explosion.
b.) Flash burns/blindness
Can be Primary or Secondary.
Primary burns are direct result of the thermal radiation from the bomb. Secondary burns are the result of fires caused by the explosion. Thermal radiation travels in straight lines so it burns on the side facing explosion. Depending on size, distance of 25 miles or more. The intense flash of light that accompanies a nuclear blast may produce flash blindness at a range of several miles. Is normally of the temporary nature, as the eye can recover in about 15 minutes in the daytime and 45 minutes at night. Thermal radiation may cause permanent damage to eyes which occur 40 miles or more from the nuclear weapon.
Describe the following effects of nuclear explosion.
c.) Radiation
can be alpha and beta particales, gamma and neutron radiation.
Alpha have little skin penetrating power and must be taken into the body through ingestion or cuts.
Beta can present a hazard to personnel if the emitters of these particles, such as dust or dirt, come in contact w/ the skin or inside the body. Can cause skin burns.
Gamma rays, which are pure energy, can penetrate every region of the body. Can pass right through a body w/o ever touching it. Rays that do strike atoms in body cause ionization of atoms which may result in any number of possible chemical reactions that damage the cells of the body.
Neutrons, have the greatest penetrating power of the nuclear radiation hazards, create hazards to personnel when the neutron is captured in atoms of various elements in the body, atmosphere, water or soil.
Describe the following effects of nuclear explosion.
d.) EMP
Electromagnetic Pulse - Produced by high altitude, air and surface bursts. Has magnetic and electric field components which exist for only fractions of a second. The electric field component may also produce transient signal overloads and spurious signals on communication nets and in computer-driven systems. EMP can destroy entire phone and communication systems, radios, vehicle ignition systems, etc. Conventional aircraft exposed to it can lose all navigation, communication, and electronic flight control systems.
Describe the following effects of nuclear explosion.
e.) Blackout
The loss of lights or electrical power failure during a nuclear attack.
Explain ready-shelter.
just inside weather envelope, w/ access to deep shelter. Provide minimum shielding from nuclear radiation and allow the crew to remain close to battle stations.
