Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Lesson 13 Administer First Aid To A Nerve Agent Casualty
Lesson 13 Administer First Aid To A Nerve Agent Casualty
INTRODUCTION
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.
ADMINISTER FIRST AID TO A NERVE AGENT CASUALTY 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.
IDENTIFY SIGNS OF SEVERE NERVE AGENT POISONING 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.
IDENTIFY SIGNS OF SEVERE NERVE AGENT POISONING 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.
MASK THE CASUALTY 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.
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.
ADMINISTER THREE NERVE AGENT ANTIDOTE KITS AND CANA 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.
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.
ADMINISTER THREE NERVE AGENT ANTIDOTE KITS AND CANA 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.
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.
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.
ADMINISTER THREE NERVE AGENT ANTIDOTE KITS AND CANA 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 THREE NERVE AGENT ANTIDOTE KITS AND CANA 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.
ADMINISTER THREE NERVE AGENT ANTIDOTE KITS AND CANA Secure Used Autoinjectors Attach used autoinjectors, atropine, PAM chloride, and CANA to the casualty's clothing, usually the left pocket flap.
DECONTAMINATE EXPOSED SKIN 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.
Questions