All personnel (staff and patients) must be decontaminated before they are permitted entry into the CPS.
- Use chemical detection equipment to check for the presence of contamination on individuals and their equipment; also check for presence of contamination on individual weapons if they are allowed in the CPS. Normally, weapons will not be allowed in the patient care areas, but will be stored outside near the entry/exit. Thorough decontamination is critical in preventing contamination transfer into the CPS.
- When a chemical agent is detected, follow the procedures in [Appendix C] for patient decontamination and FM 3-5 for other personnel decontamination before entering the CPS. All contaminated clothing and equipment are placed in the contaminated dump. Weapons should not have been evacuated with patients. However, if weapons are evacuated with the patient, they are decontaminated and held by the MTF (administrative personnel or hospital supply) for disposition instructions.
- Decontamination must be thorough; procedures must be strictly followed. Failure to do so can contaminate the interior of the MTF and injure medical treatment personnel; thus reducing their mission support capabilities.
WARNINGS
1. ALWAYS PURGE THE AIR LOCK BEFORE OPENING THE INNER DOOR, IF THE OUTER DOOR HAS BEEN OPENED.
2. WHEN OPERATING IN A TOXIC ENVIRONMENT, NEVER OPEN THE OUTER AND INNER DOORS OF THE AIR LOCKS AT THE SAME TIME.
F-15. Entry/Exit for the Collective Protection Shelter System
a. Ambulatory Personnel.
(1) Entry procedures.
(a) Ambulatory patients and others remove their MOPP (except their mask), BDUs, and boots outside the air lock. This procedure reduces the amount of possible contamination entering the air lock.