CHAPTER 3 TREATMENT OF CHEMICAL AGENT CASUALTIES

TM 9-1300-277

CHAPTER 3

TREATMENT OF CHEMICAL AGENT CASUALTIES

3-1. GENERAL

b. Special Protective Equipment for Chemical

This chapter covers chemical agents discussed in this

Group B Munitions. The special protective equipment

manual, Description, required safety equipment,

identified below must be readily available to personnel

symptoms, and self-aid are listed for each agent,

working in demilitarization/ disposal facilities.

Decontamination procedures are detailed in TM 3-220.

Treatment of casualties are detailed in TM 8-285, TM 3-

(1) Personal protective equipment, Personal

250, and FM 21-11. Also see TM 9-1300-206 and

protective equipment consisting of protective masks,

DARCOM-R 385-100.

coveralls, and protective gloves, sufficient in number to

a. Purposes of Storing. For purposes of storing

equip all personnel required to work with Chemical

and handling, chemical agents are divided into groups

Group B munitions, shall be centrally stored and

based on the action of the agent, the degree and type of

maintained under close supervision, Personnel shall be

hazard, and the type of protection required.

issued only service protective masks, coveralls, and

(1) Chemical Group A: Includes the highly

protective gloves. However, in addition, personnel

toxic liquid agents. Group A agents are not covered in

handling liquid acid-type chemical agents shall be

this manual,

issued and wear rubber boots, aprons, and gloves.

(2) Chemical Group B: Includes chemical

(2) First aid equipment, The following first aid

agents (gaseous, liquids, or solids) which are toxic or

equipment shall be stored in locations convenient to the

incapacitating by inhalation, ingestion or absorption

operations and shall be issued to the person in charge of

through the skin, Wearing of a suitable protective mask

personnel required to work with Chemical Group B

is required for the protection of personnel against

munitions:

inhalation of vapors, particles, or smoke from burning

(a) Gas casualty first aid kit; amyl nitrite

agents, Since these agents will cause varying degrees

ampoules; and individual first aid kits.

of skin irritation, approved protective clothing (such as

(b) Stretchers or litters.

coveralls, protective masks, gloves, etc.) shall be

provided and worn. The group consists of choking

(d) A bottle containing a mixture of 4

agents, blood agents (not treated in this manual), riot

ounces of pure grain alcohol (95%) and 4 ounces of

control agents, and screening smokes.

chloroform to which has been added a few drops of

(3) Chemical Group C: Includes materials

ammonia,

which are spontaneously combustible (WP and PWP)

(e) A bottle of alcoholic sodium

and for which special firefighting techniques and

bicarbonate solution made by dissolving 3-1/2 ounces of

materials are required. Personnel protection will be of

sodium bicarbonate in a pint of water, and then adding a

the type that will provide protection against fire and

pint of alcohol. This solution is used to treat skin rash

heat. Toxic fumes are normally a minimal hazard.

resulting from tear agent burns,

(4) Chemical Group D: Includes signaling

(f) Saline water solution for irrigating

smokes and incendiaries (as TH, IM, NP, PTI) which are

eyes

not covered in this manual.

3-1