C-5. Operate a Medical Treatment Facility Receiving Contaminated Patients
Individuals should have decontaminated themselves or have been decontaminated by unit personnel; however, an MTF must plan for and be prepared to receive contaminated patients. The patients may not have been decontaminated at the unit, or they may have become contaminated en route to the MTF. Selected CSHs may be designated as the primary NBC MTF and be augmented with additional supplies and medical staff. When designated as such, plans must be prepared designating the location of the CSH that can best support the forward deployed MTFs. All actions listed in paragraph C-4 must be taken. During operations, actions that must be taken are—
- Establishing a MOPP level commensurate with the operation.
- Requiring all ambulances and helicopters with contaminated (or suspected) patients to stay downwind of the MTF.
- Conducting initial triage, decontamination, and contaminated treatment downwind of the clean treatment area ([Appendixes F] [and H]).
- Ensuring all personnel crossing the hot line are decontaminated.
- Monitoring personnel entering clean area to ensure that they are contamination free.
- Monitoring for contamination in the clean treatment area (with or without CPS).
- Establishing an internal monitoring program to periodically verify that the MTF is contamination free.
- Monitoring CPS for entry of contamination.
- Providing protection for patients if contamination enters the MTF.
- Ensuring personnel drink sufficient quantities of water to prevent heat injury (see FM 21-10).
- Providing protection for personnel and patients in a cold environment. Use sheltered/heated area for patient decontamination.
- Providing protection of personnel and patients in a hot environment.
- Controlling contaminated waste.
- Isolating biological agent patients, if necessary, to control spread of agent/disease (see FM 8-284).
- Protecting supplies and equipment from contamination.
- Providing medical resupply to clean areas.
- Providing food service for personnel and patients in CPS.
- Providing latrine facilities in CPS.
- Providing drinking water in CPS.
- Providing waste disposal support. Remove waste from the CPS at least two times dally. More frequently if large amounts are collected or if odors become a problem.
- Collecting suspect BW agent specimens from patients. Packaging, preparing chain of custody document, and shipping specimens to supporting medical laboratory.
C-6. Preventive Medicine Services
Plans for providing preventive medicine services must include monitoring water supplies for contamination. To perform this mission, equipment and supplies must be available and operational. Essential equipment and supplies include—
- Radiation detection equipment such as AN/PDR77, AN/PDR27, AN/VDR2.
- Preventive Medicine Water Quality Control Set.
- M272 Chemical Agent Detection Set.
- Biological sample collection kit, shipping containers, refrigerant, and chain of custody forms.[6]
C-7. Veterinary Services
Plans for veterinary services must include provisioning for treatment to government-owned animals and quality control of food supplies. To perform their mission, essential supplies and equipment include—
- Treatment for NBC injured animals. Especially, antidotes and treatment for CB agents.
- Radiation detection equipment.
- M272 Chemical Agent Detection Set.
- Biological sample/specimen collection kit, shipping containers, refrigerant, and chain of custody forms.