CHEMICAL BIOLOGICAL

RADIOLOGICAL & NUCLEAR

AIDE-
AIDE-MEMOIRE

This guide is designed to assist the user in recalling

knowledge acquired or confirmed from other sources.
We have attempted to be as accurate as possible and have
Taken care to ensure that all information in this text is
correct and generally accepted at the time of publication.
The author, the publisher and the Lifesigns Group.
Disclaim any liable loss, injury or damage incurred as a
consequence, directly or indirectly, of the use and
application of the contents of this book.

THE LIFESIGNS GROUP

INFO@LIFESIGNSGROUP.CO.UK
WWW.LIFESIGNSGROUP.CO.UK
+44 (0) 1483 810785
 INTRODUCTION

NBC weapons may be used in any future conflict.

Before deployment to a hostile environment you will
be issued with the necessary equipment to
enable you to survive and continue to operate.
Training in it’s use is essential, the drills must be
constantly practiced.

To help you remember your training this handbook

has been produced.

CONTENTS

• Introduction & wearing of IPE

• Changing respirator canisters
• Identifying NBC alarms and warnings
• Chemical safety rule
• Chemical immediate action drill
• Decontamination
• NBC first aid
• Nerve agent poisoning

1
 INTRODUCTION TO INDIVIDUAL
PROTECTION EQUIPMENT (IPE)

WEARING INDIVIDUAL PROTECTION KIT

TROUSERS
Cross the braces (if applicable) over the chest.
Pass through the front loops and tie in a bow.
Fasten spare material with the velcro tab/duck tape.

JACKET
Do up the zip to the neck.
Fasten cuffs, waist and neck with velcro tabs/duck tape.

OVERBOOTS
3 sizes, no left and right fittings.
Lace up overboots as per packet diagram.
Pull trouser legs over top of boots and fasten velcro tabs/duck tape.

HOOD
Pull hood over head, secure with velcro tab/duck tape.

GLOVES
Place white cotton gloves on first.
Pull outer gloves over cuff of jacket.

2
 RESPIRATOR MAINTENANCE

• Don’t let others wear it.

• Always stow it correctly in the haversack.
• Don’t cram extra items into the haversack.
• Don’t fiddle with it’s fittings.
• Don’t store it next to hot pipes and radiators.
• Don’t put heavy object on top of it.
• Do not immerse canister in water.
• Remove from the haversack once a week.
• Wipe the inside of the facepiece with a disinfecting cloth.
• Don’t hang it up by it’s head harness.
• If Fuller’s earth accumulates on the facepiece, remove the
canister and dunk in warm water.

WHEN TO CHANGE YOUR

RESPIRATOR CANISTER

There are several occasions when you should change the canister:

• If you feel the effects of chemical agent whilst wearing a

properly fitted respirator.
• If resistance to breathing becomes excessive.
• If the canister is immersed in water.
• If the canister is badly dented or damaged.
• After 120 hours in a chemical environment.
• After 40 hours when using an AFV forced air flow system.
• If the shelf life expires (10 years from date on canister).
3
 WEARING THE RESPIRATOR
•Stop breathing
• close eyes
•Turn back to the wind
•Lean forward
•Pull hood back
•Pull webbing straps over head
•Thrust chin into facepiece
•Check that straps are not twisted
•Blow out hard
•Shout out GAS, GAS, GAS
•Pull up hood over respirator rib

CHANGING RESPIRATOR CANISTERS

• Remove seal from spare canister and put canister
where you can pick it up with your eyes shut.
• Close your eyes
• Take a deep breath
• Unscrew canister from respirator and discard
• Screw on new canister
• Blow out hard
• Breath normally
• Decontaminate gloves, face piece & new canister

4
 IDENTIFYING ALARMS &
WARNINGS

UKWMO

3 bangs in quick succession from maroons

3 beats on a gong or blasts from a whistle
Radio broadcasts

ALL CLEAR NOTIFICATION

Vocal “Gas clear” or “Fallout clear”

Radio broadcasts
Removal of black signs
Steady siren, whistle blast or horn

ATOM
300 cGy/hr
0111100 Z JUN
300930 z
MAY

GAS BIO
Nerve Agent
031430 Unknown
Z JUN

5
 CHEMICAL SAFETY RULES

If a hostile group uses chemical agents, it will probably be

delivered by surprise. Chemicals could be mixed with
high explosive munitions or delivered by silent means.

If an attack is suspected you will be told to follow the

Chemical Safety Rule. Survival will depend on your speed
of reaction to the following rules:

EXPERIENCE – A bombardment of any kind

SIGHT - Hostile low flying aircraft
SEE - Suspicious:
(1) Mist
(2) Smoke
(3) Droplets
(4) Splashes

SMELL - Anything unusual

NOTICE - Symptoms in yourself or others:
(1) Dimness of vision
(2) Irritation of eyes
(3) Running Nose
(4) Sudden headache
(5) Excessive salivation
(6) Tightness in the chest

HEAR - An alarm

6
 IMMEDIATE ACTION DRILL
Stop breathing, close
your eyes, turn
your back into Check the adjustment Check detector paper.
wind, lean forward. of all clothing Look for any signs of
Remove helmet and and equipment Liquid agent
hood

Put on your respirator. Decontaminate hands.

Blow out hard, shout Put on gloves
“GAS GAS GAS”

FULL DECONTAMINATION DRILL

Take cover, or wait

until. the liquid Decontaminate Decontaminate
has stopped falling face, ears, inside of
(expose fresh neck, hair respirator
detector papers
until one
remains unspotted)

If agent has
contaminated Outside of
Decontaminate Eyes, flush with water respirator
your gloves within 5 minutes
and respirator

Helmet & overboots

Remove helmet Hold your breath.
(if worn), Remove respirator
push back hood
7
 MODIFIED IA DRILL
If you are contaminated whilst already wearing full IPE, you only need to carry out a
modified drill. This is due to the fact that some agents will eventually penetrate
rubber.
As before get under cover before starting drill.

Decontaminate Outside of
Overboots
gloves respirator

DECONTAMINATION

USE OF DKP 1

Blot, Bang, Rub

8
 NBC FIRST AID

Quick appropriate first aid will improve a chemical

casualty’s chances of survival.
It is important that you protect yourself before
treating others.
Evacuation to a medical facility is your priority.

Is chemical
agent present?

NO YES OR
UNSURE

Mask casualty
Unmask casualty
If unmasked

Is the casualty
breathing?

YES NO

Evacuate to further Resuscitate if

medical help ASAP Portable
resuscitator
available

9
 DECIDING FROM SYMPTOMS
WHICH AGENT IS POISONING THE
CASUALTY

If you are unsure which group of agents have been used,

look into the casualty’s eyes to see if the they are:

PINPOINTED
DILATED
NORMAL

PUPILS PINPOINTED

Look for:

• Running nose
• Saliva or drooling at the mouth
• Difficulty in breathing (wheezing)
• Excessive sweating
• Vomiting
• Muscular twitching

If several of these are present treat

for nerve agent. If not, assume an
unknown agent and evacuate to
medical aid.

10
 UNMASKING DRILL

Whilst it reduces efficiency to operate while wearing a respirator,

unmasking too soon could have fatal consequences.
The following procedures should be strictly followed:

TEST FOR LIQUID

5 minutes after a chemical attack a check of exposed surfaces

with detector paper should be carried out. If no signs of liquid are
present you should then test for vapour.

TEST FOR VAPOUR

Tests for vapour will be carried out by trained personnel

using RVD or CAM. If there are no indications of vapour
two people will have to carry out the Sniff Test.

If they report all clear, they will then unmask for 5 minutes.

11
 SNIFF TEST

If at any time you suspect vapour, remask and

shout “GAS GAS GAS”.

• Decontaminate gloves.
• Place your back into wind.
• Loosen hood.
• Take a breath and hold it.
• Insert 2 fingers of each hand between cheek and facepiece.
• With eyes open, sniff gently over 10 seconds.
• Check for irritation of eyes, throat nose or smells.
• Blow out hard, observe others for symptoms.

If no symptoms, unmask and:

1) Remain alert for symptoms.

2) Replace hood.
3) Stow respirator and gloves in haversack.

12
 NERVE AGENT POISONING
Nerve agents may be in the form of a vapour which you
may not be able to see or smell, or it may be in the form of
drops of oily smelling liquid. You may only be able to detect it
via the following symptoms.

EARLY SYMPTOMS
TREATMENT
• Pin pointed pupils with dimness of vision
If you are poisoned by
• Running nose, increased saliva
nerve agents you should
• Tightness of chest with difficulty in breathing administer atropine
via your Combopen.
LATER SYMPTOMS Remove the safety cap
and place
• Dizziness and general weakness the pen onto the
• Headache with increased saliva and possible drooling upper outer thigh
holding down for
• Excessive sweating 15 seconds.

DANGER SYMPTOMS If you begin to suffer

with a rapid pulse,
• Nausea and vomiting
dry mouth and throat,
• Involuntary defecation and urination hot dry skin or
enlarged pupils seek
• Twitching muscles and jerking urgent medical
• Stoppage of breathing treatment for
ATROPINE POISONING.

13
 PUPILS DILATED
Has casualty used any
of his Combopens?
YES NO

Rapid pulse,
Dry hot skin, NO Rapid pulse, dry skin,
Dry mouth? Confused unsteadiness?

YES NO YES

Resuscitate if
Unknown agent,
Treat for portable
evacuate to further
Atropine poisoning resuscitator
medical help ASAP
available

PUPILS NORMAL
Irritated, streaming
eyes?
NO YES

Gasping and/or NO Severe coughing?

unconscious?
NO YES
YES

Hoarseness, red eyes and Treat for choking agent

Treat for
skin, eyelids closed in pain?
Blood agent

Treat as for CS (fresh air NO YES Treat for Blister agent

and observe)

14
 FIRST AID FOR NERVE AGENT

Ensure both you Evacuate to further

and the casualty medical aid
are in full IPE ASAP

Inject casualty with

their own
combopen. If the casualty stops breathing,
Put used combopen in decontaminate his face and administer
casualty’s haversack rescue breathing:

1) With portable resuscitator

if a vapour hazard is present

2) Mouth to mouth if
there is no vapour present

FIRST AID FOR CHOKING AGENT

Make sure both you

Keep the casualty Place the casualty
and the casualty are
warm in a casualty bag
in full IPE
and remove their
respirator

Evacuate as a stretcher case

to further medical aid regardless
of severity of symptoms

15
 FIRST AID FOR BLISTER AGENT

Ensure that both you and the

casualty are in full IPE. Evacuate to further
Remember, blister agent medical help ASAP
will remain both a contact
and vapour hazard
for a long time

Dress any blisters with casualty’s

first aid bandage after first
Decontaminating The skin. Cover
If the casualty has had the
with chemical proof Material.
agent in his eyes during
DO NOT BURST BLISTERS
the last 5 mins,
flush with water.
If more than 5 mins,
leave them for further
Decontaminate suspect areas with
medical treatment.
DKP and try to swab off Fuller’s
Replace respirator
earth powder with water.
Check in particular for reddened skin
around hairline, behind ears
and on hands

FIRST AID FOR MENTAL

INCAPACITANTS
Ensure both you and
Observe, restrain if Evacuate to further
the casualty are in
necessary, reassure medical aid ASAP
correct IPE

Remove any weapons Attempt to get the

from the casualty casualty
to take a drink

16
 REDUCING THE EFFECTS OF A
NUCLEAR EXPLOSION
(PRE-
(PRE-ATTACK)

• Erect an underground shelter with an least 18 inches of overhead cover.

• Remain under cover wherever possible.
• Keep all your equipment in your shelter.

REDUCING THE EFFECTS OF A

NUCLEAR EXPLOSION
(POST-
(POST-ATTACK)

•Carry out the IA drill.

• Wear full IPE.
• Stay under cover if possible.
• Keep food and water covered.
• Keep any cuts or abrasions covered.
• Try to avoid raising dust or touching objects unnecessarily.

ADMINISTERING FIRST AID TO

CHEMICAL CASUALTIES

Once you have decided which agent group has

poisoned the casualty, you must give the correct first aid.
The casualty may however have been exposed to a variety
of agents or newly developed agents. In which case
evacuate to further medical care ASAP

17