b. Medical units operating in a radiation fallout environment will face three problems:
- The MTF may be immersed in fallout, requiring decontamination and relocation efforts.
- Patients may continue to be produced from continued radiation exposure.
- The contaminated environment hinders MEDEVAC.
c. Decontamination of most radiological contaminated patients and equipment can be accomplished with soap and water. Soap and water will not neutralize radioactive material. However, it will remove the material from the skin, hair or material surface. See [Appendix G] for specific patient decontamination procedures. The waste can become a concentrated point of radiation and must be managed and monitored.
d. Commanders and leaders must consider the radiation exposure levels for themselves, their staffs, and patients when operating in or determining if the unit will enter a radiologically contaminated area. The commander and leader must establish an operational exposure guide for their unit and personnel. The operational exposure guide (OEG) is established for either battlefield exposures as shown in [Table 3-1] or for exposures in stability operations and support operations as shown in [Table 3-2]. The tables present radiation exposure status (RES) categories; however, they can be used to establish OEGs based on the same exposure criteria.
Table 3-1. Radiation Exposure Status Categories for Tactical Operations
| RES-O | THE UNIT HAS HAD NO RADIATION EXPOSURE. |
| RES-1 | THE UNIT HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO GREATER THAN 0 cGy BUT LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 75 cGy. |
| RES-2 | THE UNIT HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO GREATER THAN 75 cGy BUT LESS THAN OR EQUAL TO 125 cGy. |
| RES-3 | THE UNIT HAS BEEN EXPOSED TO GREATER THAN 125 cGy. |
Table 3-2. Radiation Exposure Status Categories During Stability Operations and Support Operations
| RES-O | <0.05 cGy | ||
| RES-1A | 0.05 TO 0.5 cGy | ||
| RES-1B | 0.5 TO 5 cGy | ||
| RES-1C | 5 TO 10 cGy | ||
| RES-1D | 10 TO 25 cGy | ||
| RES-1E | 25 TO 75 cGy |
3-13. Medical Triage
Medical triage is the classification of patients according to the type and seriousness of illness or injury; this achieves the most orderly, timely, and efficient use of HSS resources. However, the triage process and classification of nuclear patients differs from conventional injuries. See FM 4-02.283 for nuclear patient triage and treatment procedures.