ADMINISTER FIRST AID TO A NERVE AGENT CASUALTY

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A soldier showing signs of mild nerve agent poisoning will normally be able to take care of himself. A soldier showing signs of moderate to severe nerve agent poisoning, however, will not be able to adequately help himself and must have assistance.

TASK

Identify the buddy-aid procedures for treating a nerve agent casualty.

CONDITIONS

Given multiple-choice examination items pertaining to nerve agent poisoning, buddy-aid treatment, and decontamination.

STANDARD

Score 70 or more points on the 100-point written examination.

Anytime you believe you have been or will be exposed to a chemical agent, your first action must be to protect yourself. You cannot continue with your mission or administer aid to casualties if you are overcome by the chemical warfare agent.

Put on your protective mask immediately and give the alarm.

If you have signs and symptoms of mild nerve agent poisoning (unexplained runny nose, sudden headache, dizziness, drooling, tightness in the chest, muscular twitching, stomach cramps, nausea, and/or reduced vision), administer one set of nerve agent autoinjectors to yourself and decontaminate your exposed skin.

Put on the rest of your protective clothing.

A casualty may progress from mild to moderate to severe nerve agent poisoning signs. Signs of severe nerve agent poisoning include:

Strange and confused behavior.

Coughing, wheezing, and gurgling sounds while breathing.

Difficulty in breathing.

Severely pinpointed pupils.

Red eyes with tears present.

Vomiting.

Severe muscular twitching and general weakness.

Loss of bladder and bowel control.

Decreased pulse rate.

Convulsion.

Paralysis.

Unconsciousness.

Respiratory failure (or respiratory arrest) [casualty stops breathing].

Put the casualty’s mask on him immediately if he is not masked. If he is already masked, check the seal.

Position the casualty on his back.

Squat, do not kneel, in a chemical environment. Pressing your knee against the contaminated ground will reduce the protection time afforded by your protective clothing.

Open the casualty’s mask carrier and remove his protective mask.

Hold the mask with the lenses facing you.

Put your thumbs on the outside of the cheek pouches of the mask and your fingers on the inside of the cheek pouches.

Spread the mask open and position it on the casualty’s chin.

Put your thumbs through the two bottom straps of the head harness.

Cup the casualty’s head with the fingers of both hands and lift his head slightly.

Slide the head harness over the casualty’s head by moving your thumbs toward the back of the casualty’s head and down behind his ears.

Make sure the two bottom straps of the head harness are below the casualty’s ears, the temple straps are above his ears, and the head pad is centered in the middle of the back of his head.

The head harness should not need to be adjusted. If the straps do need to be tightened, tighten them using short, firm, jerks.

Check the seal of the mask against the casualty’s face.

If the casualty can follow instructions, have him clear his mask by covering the outlet valve and voicemitter and exhaling forcefully, then covering the inlet valves and inhaling.

If the casualty cannot follow instructions, cover the mask’s inlet valves. If the mask collapses when the casualty inhales, it is properly sealed. If it does not collapse, reseat the mask. If the soldier is not breathing, you cannot determine whether the mask is properly sealed.

Make sure the buckles are lying flat and the straps form a straight line with the tabs.

Pull the protective hood over the casualty’s head, neck, and shoulders.

Select Injection Site

The normal injection site is the outer part of the casualty’s thigh at least the width of one hand below the hip joint and at least the width of one hand above the knee.

If the casualty is very thin, roll the casualty onto his stomach or side and select a site on the upper, outer quadrant of the casualty’s buttocks. Lift his jacket if it is covering the site.

Administer Atropine

Remove one Mark I nerve agent antidote kit from the inside pocket of the casualty’s mask carrier.

If the temperature is near or below freezing, the autoinjectors may be carried next to the casualty’s body.

Hold the kit by the clip in your nondominant hand at eye level with the larger (2-PAM chloride) autoinjector on top.

Feel the injection site with your free hand to make sure the site is free from buttons or other obstructions which could damage the needle.

Grasp the body of the lower (smaller) autoinjector with the thumb and two fingers of your dominant hand.

Do not touch the green (needle) end of the autoinjector since the pressure could cause the needle to function.

Pull the atropine autoinjector out of the clip with a smooth motion.

Form a fist around the autoinjector and place the green end of the autoinjector against the injection site (thigh or buttocks) at a 90 degree angle to the surface of the site.

Apply firm even pressure to the autoinjector until the needle functions (clicks), penetrates the clothing, and automatically injects the medication into the casualty’s muscle.

Do not use a jabbing motion to inject the antidote into the muscle.

Hold the autoinjector in place for at least 10 seconds.

Pull the autoinjector out of the casualty’s body at the same 90 degree angle.

Place the used atropine autoinjector between two fingers of the hand holding the kit with the needle pointing away from your hand.

Administer 2-PAM Chloride

Grasp the body of the remaining (2-PAM chloride) autoinjector with the thumb and two fingers of your free hand.

Pull the autoinjector out of the clip in a smooth motion.

Do not touch the black (needle) end of the autoinjector.

Form a fist around the autoinjector and place the black end of the autoinjector against the injection site at a 90 degree angle.

Apply firm, even pressure until the needle functions.

Do not use a jabbing motion.

Hold the autoinjector in place for at least 10 seconds.

Pull the autoinjector out of the casualty’s body at the same 90 degree angle.

Drop the empty plastic clip without dropping the autoinjectors.

Lay the used autoinjectors on the casualty’s chest or back.

Administer Second and Third Kits

Administer the second Mark I kit using the same procedures as for the first kit.

Administer the third kit of autoinjectors.

There is no waiting period between kits.

If the casualty already administered one set of injectors to himself (used autoinjectors attached to pocket flap), you will only administer the two additional Mark I kits.

The CANA is NOT for use as self-aid. If you know who you are, where you are, and what you are doing, you do not need CANA.

Administer the CANA immediately after the third MARK I to prevent convulsions.

Grasp the CANA autoinjector with your dominant hand with the needle end extending beyond your thumb and two fingers.

With your other hand, pull the safety cap off the autoinjector base.

The injector is now armed.

DO NOT touch the black (needle) end because you may accidently inject yourself.

Position the black (needle) end of the autoinjector against the casualty’s injection site (thigh or buttocks).

Apply firm, even pressure (not a jabbing motion) to the injector until it pushes the needle into the casualty’s thigh (or buttocks). Make sure you do not hit the casualty’s mask carrier or any objects in the individual’s pockets.

Hold the injector firmly in place for at least 10 seconds.

Carefully remove the CANA autoinjector from the casualty’s injection site.

Drop the safety cap. (The cap can be disposed of earlier.)

Secure Used Autoinjectors

Attach used autoinjectors, atropine, PAM chloride, and CANA to the casualty’s clothing, usually the left pocket flap.

Obtain M291 Kit

Obtain the M291 decontamination kit from the casualty’s mask carrier.

The M291 Skin Decontaminating Kit is provided to service members for skin decontamination. This kit may also be used to decontaminate selected individual equipment, such as load bearing equipment, protective gloves, mask, hood, and weapon.

Seek overhead cover or use a poncho for protection against further contamination.

Decontaminate Hands

Remove one skin decontaminating packet from the carrying pouch.

Tear open quickly at notch. Although any notch may be used to open the packet, opening at the TEAR LINE will place applicator pad in a position that is easier to use.

Remove applicator pad from packet and discard empty packet.

Unfold applicator pad and slip finger(s) into handle.

Thoroughly scrub exposed skin on the casualty’s hands (back of hand, palm, and fingers) until completely covered with black powder from the applicator pad.

Decontaminate Face

Thoroughly scrub exposed skin of the casualty’s face until completely covered with black powder from the applicator pad.

Have casualty hold his breath, close his eyes. Grasp his mask beneath chin, and pull hood and mask away from chin enough to allow one hand between the mask and the face. Hold mask in this position until you discard the applicator pad.

Scrub up and down across face beginning at from of one ear to nose to other ear.

Scrub across face to corner of nose.

Scrub extra stroke at corner of nose.

Scrub across nose and tip of nose to other corner of nose.

Scrub extra stroke at corner of nose.

Scrub across face to other ear.

Next scrub up and down across face to mouth to other end of jawbone.

Scrub across cheek to corner of mouth.

Scrub extra stroke at corner of mouth.

Scrub across closed mouth to center of upper lip.

Scrub extra stroke above upper lip.

Scrub across closed mouth to other corner of mouth.

Scrub extra stroke at corner of mouth.

Scrub across cheek to end of jawbone.

Next, scrub up and down across face to chin and to other end of jawbone.

Scrub across the under jaw to chin, cupping.

Scrub extra stroke at center of chin.

Scrub across the under jaw to the end of the jawbone.

Turn your hand out, and quickly wipe the inside of the mask that touches the face.

Discard applicator pad.

Immediately seal mask, clear, and check it.

Remove second skin decontaminating packet from carrying pouch.

Remove applicator pad from packet and discard empty packet.

Decontaminate Neck

If the casualty was already masked when becoming contaminated, without breaking the seal between the face and mask, thoroughly scrub skin of neck and ears until completely covered with black powder.

Redo hands until completely covered with black powder.

Discard applicator pad.

Put the protective gloves on the casualty.

Fasten casualty’s hood.

Remove powder with soap and water when operational conditions permit. It does not matter how long the powder stays on your skin.

Bury the used pads and packets if circumstances permit.

Masking the casualty, administering three Mark 1 kits and CANA, and decontaminating exposed skin are initial treatment measures for a nerve agent casualty. The medical phase of the combat lifesaver course presents additional treatment procedures for severe nerve agent casualties and treatment for victims of other types of chemical agents. This lesson is tested on the written examination.