First-Aid Treatment
the unit area can be detected quickly. When warned of
the arrival of fallout and the tactical situation permits,
The casualty-producing effects of a nuclear
individuals should take cover and remain protected until
explosion are blast, heat, and nuclear radiation. First-aid
instructed otherwise.
measures are limited to those for burns caused by
A handkerchief or similar cloth maybe worn over
thermal radiation and injuries caused by the blast. There
the nose and mouth. If dust particles make breathing
are no immediate lifesaving measures for the treatment
difficult or cause discomfort, the protective masks
of radiation sickness or blindness caused by the intense
light.
should not be used as a dust respirator. If it is necessary
to remain in an area having fallout, individuals should
When the tactical situation prohibits you from going
dig in quickly, sweep fallout particles away from the
to a decontamination station, you must remove most of
area around fighting holes, and remain covered until
the radioactive material with whatever you have on
fallout stops.
hand. If you become heavily contaminated, the
following measures are recommended:
The skin and clothing of individuals exposed to
fallout or who have traveled through a radiologically
1. You must remove your outer garments. Shake
contaminated area may cause a skin rash. If the situation
them vigorously or brush them off. Be sure the clothing
is held downwind. This will remove most of the
prohibits complete decontamination, then field-
radioactive material unless it is wet and muddy.
expedient methods should be used to reduce the
radiation hazard. Some of these methods that remove
2. When it is too cold or wet to remove your outer
alpha- and beta-emitting particles include the following:
clothing, brush or scrape them carefully.
Removal and vigorous shaking of clothing or
3. The same procedure should be used to decon-
taminate your equipment.
brushing the clothing with brushes (avoid breathing
dust)
Personnel Decontamination Station
Removing dust from the hair and from under the
fingernails
Complete personnel decontamination is conducted
at a personnel decontamination station (PDS). The PDS
Wiping exposed skin with a damp cloth
is setup in a secure, uncontaminated area, located as far
All personnel should bathe and change clothing as
forward as the tactical situation permits. Personnel from
soon as the tactical situation permits. Remember that
both the decontamination and the supported unit operate
the PDS under the supervision of the Chemical,
runoff water is contaminated, and appropriate defensive
measures should be taken.
(CBRDO), NOBC 2765 or the Disaster Preparedness
The requirement for decontamination of individual
Operations and Training Specialist, NEC 9598.
equipment, vehicles, weapons, and ammunition can be
reduced, if, before fallout arrives, they are covered with
SEABEE CBR DEFENSE EQUIPMENT
materials such as tarpaulins, shelter halves, or ponchos.
NOTE
is to wash it with water.
The following information was current
when it was written. Because of the frequency
of change in CBR defense equipment, consult
the Disaster Preparedness School (NCTC,
Gulfport, Mississippi, or Port Hueneme,
exposure by doing the following:
California) nearest you for the latest
Limiting the duration of exposure by reducing
information.
the amount of time in the hazardous area
Individual CBR defense equipment consists of
permeable protective clothing, protective footwear
enough to permit safe passage or occupancy or both
covers, protective masks, skin decontamination kits, and
Avoiding and bypassing contaminated areas
atropine.
9-13