FMF 112 CBRN Fundamentals Flashcards
NATO CBRN
A standard system used to mark areas contaminated by CBRN agents. The markers are triangular in shape, with a base of 11 1/2 inches and sides of about 8 inches.
Purpose of the M50 Joint Service General Purpose Mask
Designed to provide 24 hours of continuous head-eye-respiration for protection against chemical & biological agents, radiological particles, and toxins industrial chemicals.
Will not protect against industrial gases like ammonia or carbon monoxide.
Proper way to don and clear M50 Joint Service General Purpose Mask
- Close eyes, stop breathing, & hold your breath.
- Remove cover/take of glasses
- Grab mask
- Raise mask to face and put chin in chin cup.
- Pull head harness over your head and pull the tabs.
- Tighten cheek straps one at a time
- Clear the mask
- Cover outlet valve with palm of one hand
- Blow out hard to ensure contaminated air is forced out
- Do negative pressure test
- Resume breathing
CBRN Alarms
-Vocal: The word “GAS” repeated 3 times
-Visual: Arms extended straight out to side and hands in fist, bend arms so fists are placed to ears and repeat 3 times.
-Percussion: Metal on metal. Metal triangles are used to give the alarm.
Mission Oriented Protective Posture (MOPP) Levels
The need to balance protection with the threat, temperature, and urgency of the mission led to the concept of MOPP.
Know all 4 levels
M9 Detector Paper
-Issued 1 roll per squad or gun team
-Worn around the ankles, wrists, and biceps on the outside of protective clothing.
-Detects the presence of chemical agents but NOT identify the agent.
-Appears light pink to a reddish brown or violet tint
M8 Detector Paper
-Issued with your field mask
-Used on primarily on suspected liquid forms such as puddles, drops, and barely visible droplets.
-Blot DO NOT rub on suspected contamination.
M8 Chemical Colors
Yellow/Gold— G Series—Nerve Agent
Dark Green— V Series—Nerve Agent
Pink/Red—H Series —Blister Agent
3 Levels of Decontamination
Immediate Decon: minimizes casualties, saves lives, and limits spread. 3 immediate techniques are skin Decon, personnel wipe down, & operator’s spray down.
Operational Decon: Sustains operations, reduces the contact hazard, and limits the spread of contamination. There are two techniques: vehicle wash down and MOPP gear exchange.
Through Decon: Reduces or eliminates the need for individual protective clothing. There are 3 through Decon techniques: detailed troop Decon, detailed equipment Decon & detailed aircraft Decon.
Immediate actions required for a nuclear attack without warning
React without weapon: immediately drop down, head toward blast, if possible. Use cover, close your eyes and cover exposed skin but putting hands and arms under your body.
React with weapon: Immediately drop down, head towards blast, use cover if possible. Close your eyes, protects skin by putting arms and hands under your body. Weapon under your body, muzzle away from face.
Nerve Agent
-Produces their effect by interfering with normal transmission of nerve impulses in the parasympathetic autonomic nervous system.
-Odorless, almost colorless
-Soluable in water and fairly stable unless strong alkali or chlorinating compounds are added.
Symptoms: pupils constrict to pinpoint, local muscular twitching, rhinorrhea, dyspnea, diarrhea, vomiting, convulsion, hyper-salivation, drowsiness, coma and unconsciousness.
TX: Atropine, an acetylcholine blocker. Navy & MC issued (3) 2mg autoinjectors of atropine and (3) 600mg autoinjectors of 2-PAM CI. A second autoinjectors containing oxime therapy can also be used for regeneration of the blocked cholinesterase.
Blister Agents
Vesicants, exert their primary action on the skin, producing large & painful blisters that are incapacitating.
-High doses can cause death.
-Common blister agents include: mustard (HD), nitrogen mustard (HN), and Lewisite (L).
-They attack the eyes and respiratory tract as well as the skin.
Mustard (HD)
HD and HN are oily, colorless or pale yellow liquids.
HN is less volatile and more persistent than HD but has the same blistering qualities.
Lewisite
Arsenical-Light to dark brown liquid that vaporizes slowly.
-No severe respiratory injuries are likely to occur. Lewisite causes intense pain upon contact.
TX: Immediately decontaminate the eyes. Sodium Sulfacetamide 30% solution is used to combat eye infection within first 24 hours.
In severe cases morphine can be given. Systemic involvement, British Anti-Lewisite (BAL), dimercaprol, in peanut oil suspension for injection.
Blood Agents
Interfere with enzyme functions in the body, i.e. block oxygen transfer.
Hydrocyanic Acid (AC) & Cyanogen Chloride (CK)
SX: Death or recovery happens rapidly. High exposure = forceful increase in depth of respiration for a few secs, violent convulsions for 20-30 secs, respiratory failure with cessation of heart action.
TX: Amyl Nitrate in crushed ampules and intravenous sodium thiosulfate solution.
Choking Agents
Causes extensive damage to alveolar tissue resulting in pulmonary edema.
Includes Phosgene (CG), Chlorine (CI), Chloropicrin, and Diphosgene.
Phosgene is a colorless gas that smells like new hay or freshly cut grass. CG can cause damage to the eyes and throat.
SX: Watering eyes, coughing, chest tightness; no sx for 2-6 after exposure.
Latent SX: rapid, shallow and labored breathing, cyanosis, frothy sputum, clammy skin, rapid pulse, low BP.
TX: Complete bed rest
Incapacitating Agents
Produces mental confusion and inability to function intelligently. Temporarily prevent an individual from carrying out assigned actions. Administered by contaminating food or water.
1st sx appear in 30 minutes-several hours & may persist for several days. Increased heart rate, pupil size, skin temp, drowsiness, dry skin, decreased alertness.
Standard incapicitant is 3-Quinuclidinyl Benzilate (BZ), a cholinergic blocking agent.
TX: Prevent victims from injuring themselves and others during toxic psychosis. Physostigmine is drug of choice (Not effective first 4 hours but is after that).
Riot Control/Harrassing
-Collection of chemical compounds that are relatively nontoxic and produce an immediate but temporary effect in low concentrations.
-Lacrimators & Vomiting Agents
Lacrimators
-Tear gases
-In high concentrations they irritate the respiratory tract and the skin.
-Chloracetophenone (CN) and Orthochlorobenzilidine Malanonitrile (CS).
SX: Intense px in the eyes with excessive tearing.
TX: Exposure to fresh air and letting wind blow into wide open eyes.
Vomiting Agents
-Diphenylaminochlororarsine (Adamsite DM), diphenylchlororarsine (DA), diphenylcyanoarsine (DC). Dispersed as aerosols and by inhalation or by direct action on the eyes.
SX: Produce strong pepper like irritation in the upper respiratory tract, with irritation of the eyes and lacrimation. Causes violent sneezing, coughing, nausea, vomiting.
TX: Wear your mask
Screening Smokes
-Fits in with riot control agents.
-Primary use is to obscure vision and hide areas or targets.
-Exposure to heavy smokes may cause illness or death.
White Phosphorus
-A pale, waxy solid that ignites on contact with air to give a hot, dense, white smoke.
-Causes temporary irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat.
-No tx is necessary.
-When burning particles are embedded in the skin, they must be covered with water, wet cloth and mud. Freshly mixed 0.5% solution of copper sulfate may be used as a rinse but not used as a dressing. Phosphorus particles MUST be removed surgically.
