Transcript U.S. Policies
SEABEE COMBAT WARFARE CHEMICAL WARFARE
CBR History
Imagine if you will its April 22 nd 1915, a warm, sunny day, you’re an Allied soldier stationed somewhere in Belgium, there’s a slight breeze blowing from behind the German lines, across no man’s land and through your fighting positions.
You take this as a good omen, because for the last 24 hours your positions have been bombarded by German artillery, and just as the breeze picked up the heavy gun fire stopped.
CBR History
BUT, just a few hundred yards away, four divisions of the 23 rd and 26 th German Army Corps were opening the valves on six thousand cylinders stationed along their four mile front.
Seconds later, a five foot high wall of greenish yellow vapor begins to roll toward your positions.
Less than a minute after that the cloud reaches your front lines - and only seconds later you and everyone around you are drowning in your own mucous.
CBR History
THAT WAS THE BEGINNING OF MODERN CHEMICAL WARFARE.
That gas was chlorine – you see, chlorine doesn’t just suffocate, it poisons and strips the lining of the bronchial tubes and lungs. The resulting inflammation produces massive amounts of liquid, and the victims literally drown in their own bodily fluids.
Definition
CBR Warfare is the study of the deployment, detection, monitoring, and recovery of C hemical, B iological, or R adiological agents
(brief) History • Pre-WWI Developments • Ancient: hellebore, mandrake in water 1000-200 b.c
• Recent:
– 1700-1850: Chlorine, Mustard (dichloroehtylsulfide), chloropicrin – Civil War: Dougherty: Chlorine, 3 qts in shell
National Warfare Capability
U.S. Policies
Chemical Warfare
– The United States will not use chemical agents as a first strike attack. However, the President can authorize the use of Chemical agents in retaliation to an attack with chemical agents.
Chemical Warfare
Definition
– Chemical warfare is the use of chemical agents with the intent to kill, injure, or incapacitate personnel, or to restrict or deny access to strategic areas or routes Produce physiological and psychological effects Cause casualties Degrade performance Disrupt support Restrict maneuvers
(brief) History • Definitions
– Kill: Soman, VX – Injure: Phosgene – Incapacitate: CS, BZ
• Countermeasures
– Until WWI, US not concerned or interested
Chemical Agents
Six Types of Chemical Agents
• Blister Agents • Blood Agents • Choking Agents • Nerve Agents • Incapacitating Agents • Military Compounds Casualty Agents
Agents may be delivered in a liquid (persistent) or gaseous (non-persistent) form
Blister Agents
Physiological Effects
• Inflammation, blistering, and destruction of tissue
Types
• Mustard (H) • Arsenicals (Lewisite) (L) • Urticants
Protection Required
• JSLIST suit and MCU-2P Mask ( MOPP IV )
Detection
• M-256A1, M-88 Alarm, M-8 & M-9 Paper, ICAM, ICAD •Odor – Often smells like very strong garlic or geraniums
Blister Agents
• • •
Symptoms Eyes -
Watery and bloodshot - Swollen eyelids - Gritty feeling
Skin -
Burns in moist areas - Itching and blisters
Respiratory Tract
- Irritation of throat - Coughing
Blood Agents
Types
- Hydrogen Cyanide, Arsine, and Cyanogen Chloride
Physiological Effects
- Prevents the normal transfer of oxygen to the body tissue resulting in cell suffocation
Protection Required
- MCU-2P mask – filters must be changed immediately since blood agent “Canister Crackers” will render the canister ineffective in 15 minutes
Means of Detection -
M-256A1 Kit
,
ICAD
Blood Agents
Mild Symptoms
- Irritation of eyes, nose and throat - Coughing and tightness of chest
Moderate Symptoms
- Nausea - Headache - Convulsions
Severe Symptoms
- Violent Convulsions - Heart Failure
Blood Agents
Mild Symptoms
- Irritation of eyes, nose and throat - Coughing and tightness of chest
Moderate Symptoms
- Nausea - Headache - Convulsions
Severe Symptoms
- Violent Convulsions - Heart Failure
Choking Agents
Mild Symptoms
- Headache - Coughing and Tightness of Chest
Moderate Symptoms
- Painful Coughing - Rapid Shallow Breathing
Severe Symptoms
- Shock – Like Symptoms - Low Blood Pressure - Foaming at the Mouth
Nerve Agents
Types
• V / VX, Soman, Sarin and • MOPP IV Tabum
Protection Detection
• M-256A1 Kit, M88 alarm, M-8 & M-9 paper, ICAM, ICAD
Physiological Effects
Attacks the central nervous system by reacting with an enzyme (acetylcholinesterase) that controls the nervous system, causing an overstimulation
Nerve Agents
Mild Symptoms
- Pinpointing of Pupils ( Useful when in MOPP IV ) - Tightness of Chest - Nausea and Drooling
Moderate Symptoms
- Fatigue - Muscle Twitching
Severe Symptoms
- Uncontrollable coughing and Convulsions - Severe Difficulty Breathing and Heart Failure
Nerve Agent Antidote Kit (NAAK)
Auto – Injectors
1 – Atropine - 1 – 2PAM Chloride
Means of Administering
Self Aid ( 1 st and 2 nd Sets) - Buddy Aid ( Up to 3 Sets) - Maximum of three sets can be given prior to Medical Supervision
Diazepam Injections
Suppress Convulsions, Normally given only by Medical
Nerve Agent Antidote Kit (NAAK)
• Administer by removing the safety cap (the light end) and pushing the injector end (the dark end) into the meaty part of the hip or thigh. Hold in place for 10 seconds.
• When finished, bend the injector needle and place in the front of the JSLIST top.
Incapacitating Agents
Types
- Depressants – Sedate and destroy motivation - Stimulants – Flood the Brain with too much information
Physiological Effects
- Alters and disrupts the Central Nervous System Temporarily.
Protection Required
- Protective Mask
Means of Detection
- None!
Military Compounds
Types
- Vomiting ( Adamsite ) - Tear Producing ( CS and CN Gas )
Physiological Effects
- Temporary Irritating Effects
Protection Required
- Protective Mask
Means of Detection
- None
Bursting type
- Ground Burst - Air Burst
Spray
Thermal
Dispersers
Delivery
JSLIST Suit
Joint Service Lightweight Integrated Suit Technology
- Also called the Advanced Chemical Protective Over garment (ACPG) - Good for 24 hours in a contaminated environment - 45 day life after opening the package - Can be laundered up to 6 times if not contaminated - Water resistant, but not
waterproof
- Old style gloves and boots still used with the JSLIST, will provide 24 hours of protection in a contaminated environment
Donning Procedures
M ission O riented P rotective P osture
Five Levels:
• MOPP 0 • MOPP I • MOPP II • MOPP III • MOPP IV
Donning Procedures
MOPP Level 0:
- Mask and suit are carried
MOPP Level I:
Don JSLIST top - Don JSLIST trousers
MOPP Level II:
- Don overboots (MULO’s)
Donning Procedures
MOPP Level III:
- Don MCU-2P mask
MOPP Level IV:
- Don cotton glove liners and rubber gloves
Why is CBR Important?
The threat is real. Many nations have the capability of deploying nuclear, biological and chemical weapons. Korea is known to have chemical weapons capabilities and is reported to be experimenting with nuclear weapons.
So it’s important that you understand the threat and means to protect yourself or your buddy.