Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!uwm.edu!linac!att!cbnews!cbnews!military
From: cga66@ihlpy.att.com (Patrick V Kauffold)
Newsgroups: sci.military
Subject: Unmasking
Message-ID: <1991Feb22.232045.4016@cbnews.att.com>
Date: 22 Feb 91 23:20:45 GMT
Sender: military@cbnews.att.com (William B. Thacker)
Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories
Lines: 46
Approved: military@att.att.com



From: cga66@ihlpy.att.com (Patrick V Kauffold)
You have all seen the troops putting on their MOPP
(chemical protection) gear.  And you may have noticed
that there is a procedure for putting it on (by the
numbers!).

But what do you do once you have it on?  I ran across this
tidbit in the "Commanders Tactical Notebook", put out by
the Basic School, MCDEC, Quantico:

1. PROCEDURE WHEN A DETECTOR KIT IS AVAILABLE.

A chemical agent detector kit (M256) is used to test for the 
presence or absence of chemical agents. After determining the
absence of agents, two or three individuals unmask for five
minutes, then remask, and are examined in a shady area for
chemical agent symptoms. If none appear, the remainder of the
troops may safely unmask.  It should be noted that bright light
will cause contraction of the pupils which could be erroneously
interpreted as a nerve agent symptom.

2. PROCEDURE WHEN NO DETECTOR KIT IS AVAILABLE.

As an emergency field expedient when no detector kit can be
obtained, two or three individuals are selected to take a deep
breath, hold it, break the seal on their masks, and keep their
eyes wide open for 15 seconds.  They then clear their masks,
reestablish the seal and wait for five to ten minutes.  If no
symptoms appear, the same individuals again break the seal,
take two or three breaths, and clear and reseal the mask. After
another five to ten minutes wait, if no symptoms develop, these
same individuals unmask for five minutes and then remask. After
ten more minutes, if no symptoms have appeared, request per-
mission from higher headquarters to unmask.  Once given per-
mission to unmask, the unit may unmask.  However, the unit should
remain alert for the appearance of any chemical symptoms.

(end of procedure)

Sure would give you a warm feeling to be a possible "detector".

"Private Canary, front and center!"

"I need three volunteers; you, you and you!"


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