You must understand that the preceding paragraph
NOTE: Buddies should check each other's
overboots and overgarment for damage. Any rips,
outlines the minimum that should be done.
tears, or punctures in overboots, rubber gloves, or
Depending on time available, more extensive washing
overgarment should be reported to the attendant at
and checking procedures may be useful. You may
station 5. This will allow the attendant at station 5 to
decide to wash equipment longer or let it air outside
after washing. This further reduces the amount of
check you for chemical agent symptoms and your
clothing for possible contamination.
agent vapor desorbing (or bleeding) out of the pistol
belt, mask carriers, helmet covers, and so forth.
Station 3--Overgarment Removal
Equipment can be put in closed areas or plastic bags
and checked for hazardous vapors with CAM or
M256-series chemical agent detector kit. The CAM
Performing this step ensures removal of the
will only detect the nerve agent (G) and blister agent
contaminated overgarments before an agent
vapors (H).
penetrates the overgarment material and touches the
undergarments or skin.
Station 2--Overboot and Hood Decon
PREPARATION-- The materials and equipment
needed at this station are as follows:
Actions at this station neutralize gross
Cutting tool
contamination on overboots and lower trouser legs.
Two 30-gallon garbage cans
protective mask is also decontaminated.
One hundred plastic bags (or at least one per
Seabee)
PREPARATION-- Prepare a shuffle pit by
Ten boxes M258A1 or M291 decon kits
digging a shallow pit about 3 feet wide by 3 feet long
by 6 inches deep. Fill the shuffle pit with a
This station requires only one decon member. He
supertropical bleach (STB) dry mix. Prepare the STB
or she supervises the actions of the troops processing
dry mix by mixing 3 parts earth to 2 parts STB. Add
through the station.
more STB to the mix after ten people have processed
EXECUTION-- Buddy teams will divide and
The following
through the shuffle pit.
continue the decontamination process individually.
equipment/supplies are needed at this station:
The station attendant assists in the removal of the
One M258A1 or M291 skin decontaminating kit
smock and trouser by cutting them off.
per person
CAUTION
6 feet by 6 feet piece of plastic
Trash bags (as required)
Ensure that contaminated parts of the
trousers and smock do not fold in and touch
Ten drums of STB
the clean uniform.
Only one decon team member is required to
The station attendant cautions the troops not to rub
operate this station. The buddy system is used to
the contaminated boot against his or her clean leg and
decontaminate the overboots and protective mask.
to step wide enough so as not to rub the clean leg
against the overgarment. If this step is done
EXECUTION-- Walk into the shuffle pit that is
improperly, the agent may be transferred to the
composed of STB dry mix (3 parts earth and 2 parts
underclothing or skin.
STB). Use gloved/protected hands to rub STB dry
mix on the boots and lower trousers. Decontaminate
Station 4--Overboots and Gloves
the hood according to one of the two following
Removal
procedures. Use the skin decon kit to decontaminate
the hood and exposed parts of your buddy's mask.
When you have finished decontaminating your
This step removes contaminated overboots
buddy's mask, decontaminate your gloves with the
(footwear covers) and gloves to limit the spread of
skin decon kit in preparation for decontaminating your
decontaminated for reissue.
buddy's mask.
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