Operational Medicine 2001
Field Medical Service School
Student Handbook

MOPP GEAR EXCHANGE & CASUALTY DECONTAMINATION
FMST 0214
27 OCT 99

 

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TERMINAL LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1.      Given a simulated NBC contaminated environment (day and night) and individual combat equipment, perform MOPP gear exchange and casualty decontamination, per the reference.  (FMST.02.14)

ENABLING LEARNING OBJECTIVES

1.      Without the aid of reference materials, given a list of guidelines, identify the guidelines for conducting MOPP Gear Exchange, per student handout.  (FMST.02.14a)

2.      Without the aid of reference materials, given a list of procedures, identify procedures for MOPP Gear Exchange, per student handout.  (FMST.02.14b)

OUTLINE

A.     PURPOSE OF MOPP GEAR EXCHANGE.  Operational decontamination, which is done at the battalion level, generally follows immediate decontamination, which is done by the individual.  The purpose of operational decontamination is to reduce the level of contamination to regenerate needed combat power.  Operational decontamination will further reduce the risk of contamination transfer, the spread of contamination, and speed the weathering process by removing much of the gross contamination.

B.     PLANNING PROCEDURES FOR DECONTAMINATION.  Operational decontamination requires a considerable amount of planning in order to ensure it is properly executed.  However, operational decontamination requires a minimal amount of people and equipment, therefore assets should be easily accessible.

1.      Responsibilities.

a.       The contamination unit.  Squad size elements (10-13) and occasionally platoon sized elements (35-40) will conduct operational decontamination.  The contaminated unit is responsible for the decontamination of its Marines, Sailors, and equipment.

b.      The Battalion Command Operations Center (COC).  The COC coordinates operational decontamination operations.  If the battalion has no decontamination assets or more assets are required, requests will be submitted to the next higher headquarters for needed support.  Assets may then be made available to the requesting unit.

2.      Phase of operational decontamination.

a.       Preparation Phase.

1)      Request.  The commander of the contaminated unit decides when to conduct operational decontamination, and calls the battalion COC to request support.

2)      Coordination.  The COC directs the battalion decontamination team where to meet the contaminated unit.  After the contaminated unit chooses the location.  Decontamination sites can be pre-selected but they may or may not be used depending on the current tactical situation.

3)      Site selection.   The contaminated unit chooses the site where they will conduct operational decontamination, in coordination with its battalion.  Generally, the contaminated unit has the most complete knowledge of local conditions and is best qualified to select the decontamination site.  Several factors must be taken into consideration:

a)      Good overhead concealment.

b)      Good drainage.

c)      Off the main route, but with easy access for vehicles.

d)      Wind direction must be taken into consideration when selecting the site.

e)      Large enough area to handle vehicle washdown and MOPP gear exchange for squad size element (100 square meters per site).

f)        A water source.  Make use of any available water source to minimize the acquisition of water to fill bladders.  Plan for 100 to 150 gallons of water per vehicle.  Take into account that larger vehicles and vehicles with large amounts of mud will need more water.

4)      Rendezvous.  The contaminated unit’s company supply section will bring replacement MOPP gear, decontaminates and skin decontamination kits to the rendezvous location.  Supply sections have little organic security, so local field Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) should provide for the security and rendezvous procedures for all parties involved to avoid confusion, delay, or confrontation with enemy forces.

5)      Site setup.  An operational decontamination site requires little setup and preparation.  The site setup requires the decontamination apparatus to be set along the roadway ready to dispense hot soapy water.   MOPP gear exchange can set up by two Marines, approximately fifty meters upwind of the vehicle washdown site.  If you must use the M17 Sanator water bladder, additional time will be required for site setup to fill the bladder.

b.      Execution phase.  This is the phase when the unit actually conducts MOPP gear exchange and vehicle washdown.

1)      Site control and security.  Vehicle commanders maintain proper intervals as they move their vehicles through the site.  Drivers maintain visual contact with one another to know when to move from concealment to the washdown area.  Units will provide their own security as MOPP gear exchange and vehicle washdown are conducted.

2)      Processing.  Each vehicle receives a 2 to 3 minute vehicle washdown with hot soapy water.  Following the washdown, each vehicle will move to the MOPP gear exchange site and unload Marines to conduct MOPP exchange.  For planning purposes, the vehicle washdown site will process one vehicle every 2 to 3 minutes and the MOPP gear exchange will take approximately 30 minutes.  For a squad size element, estimate 45 to 60 minutes for vehicle washdown and MOPP gear exchange, if both are executed concurrently.

3)      Site clearance phase.  Although operational decontamination is done rapidly with little site preparation, these areas will be contaminated when the operation is completed.  This could be a hazard to friendly forces reoccupying the area.  So clean up is required.

a)      Cleanup.  Any reusable equipment will be decontaminated and all trash will be placed in double trash bags and taped before being buried.  Once the trash is buried, the hole must then be covered with super tropical bleach (STB).

b)      Burning.  Burning the trash can create downwind vapor hazards.  If the gear had been burned, higher headquarters will need to be notified so appropriate vapor hazard predictions could be sent to any units in the area.

c)      Marking and reporting.  The area that was used for the site must be marked with appropriate North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) markers.  And downwind hazard predictions must be sent to any unit that might be affected by the contamination.

C.     GUIDELINES FOR CONDUCTING MOPP GEAR EXCHANGE.

1.      MOPP gear exchange is preferably conducted within six hours of contamination.

2.      Where to conduct MOPP gear exchange:

a.       In the unit’s area of operation.

b.      Well protected site (cover and concealment).

3.      If at any time during MOPP gear exchange the Marine thinks he may have contaminated his skin, he must stop and conduct immediate decontamination.

4.      Optimum unit size is 10 to 20 Marines (squad size unit).

5.      Formation of “buddy teams”.

6.      The Marines in each buddy team alternate as they go through step 1.  At step 2, one team member proceeds through step 8 before alternating.  This will ensure there is no spread of contamination onto skin or undergarments.

7.      To reduce the spread of contamination, contaminated equipment and trash must be contained.

D.     EQUIPMENT NEEDED TO CONDUCT MOPP GEAR EXCHANGE.  Each Marine conducting MOPP gear exchange must have an uncontaminated suit including boots and gloves.  Each Marine also needs either a M258A1 of M291 decontamination kits.  One pound container of Super Tropical Bleach (STB) (for dry mix) and long handle brushes are needed for the individual gear decontamination.  The STB dry mix is mixed two parts STB with three parts earth.

E.      PERSONNEL REQUIRED FOR MOPP GEAR EXCHANGE.  Two Marines are required to set the site up.  Also needed are unit supply personnel to distribute new chemical protective clothing.  Additionally a team leader and an assistant are needed to control the MOPP gear exchange.  The team leader and his assistant will stand in the middle of a circle and demonstrate each step to the other Marines.

F.      RESPONSIBILITIES OF TEAM LEADERS.

1.  Maintain complete control of all personnel and procedures.

2.  Ensure all guidelines are followed.

 3.  Conduct liaison with supply and support elements.

4.  Select site and supervise set-up.

5.  Supervise site closedown.

G.     PROCEDURES FOR MOPP GEAR EXCHANGE.

1.      Step 1.  Decontaminate individual gear.  Performing this step removes gross contamination from individual gear (weapon, helmet, load-bearing equipment, and mask carrier).

a.       Form two columns.

b.      Start with the team leader and assistant.  Decontaminate all individual gear (rifle, helmet, 782 gear, etc.).  this is performed by placing the contaminated gear inside the bucket of STB dry mix and scrubbing it with long handle brushes.

c.       Place clean gear (decontaminated) on covered ground (poncho, plastic, etc.).

2.      Step 2.  Prepare for decontamination.  Performing this step allows the Marines to remove his over-garment trousers and over-boots at a later time.  It also allows for the hood to be rolled easily.

a.       Marines should be grouped into pairs and will be directed to their  places in a circle by the team leader.

b.      There should be enough room between pairs (1-3 meters) to conduct all procedures without interfering with each other, or spreading contamination.

c.       The Marines to be undressed first is on the outside of the circle.  He is considered the “clean” Marine.

d.      All discarded gear will be placed on the inside of the circle behind the “dirty” Marine.

e.       Unfasten the shoulder straps on the hood, pull them over the shoulder, and reattach the fasteners.

f.        Loosen the draw cord on the hood and remove any M9 tape from over-garment.

g.       Untie draw cords on over-garment trouser legs, unzip trouser legs and roll up a cuff in the trouser legs.  Ensure the cuff does not come above the top of the over-boots.

h.       Unfasten or cut fasteners of the Green Vinyl Over-boots (GVO) or untie the laces on the protective over-boot.

3.      Step 3.  Decontaminate and roll hood.  Performing this step removes gross contamination from the mask and hood.  The squad leader and his assistant supervise the other teams while they go through the steps themselves.

a.       Decontaminate hood using M258A1 Decontamination Kit.

1)      Start with packet two.

2)      Decontaminate eye-lenses first.

3)      Decontaminate hood from top to bottom using long downward strokes.

4)      Repeat procedures with packet number one.

b.      Decontaminate hood using M291 Decontamination Kit.

1)      Scrub eye-lenses first.

2)      Decontaminate rest of mask and hood by scrubbing from top to bottom.

c.       Roll hood.

1)      Start by decontaminating your gloves.

2)      Grab the straps of the hood where they connect to the hood.  Lift the hood straight up off your buddy’s shoulders.

3)      Pull the hood up over the head, until the bottom of the back of the hood is to the top of the eye lens out-serts, but not covered.  Check for contamination on underside of hood and decontaminate if necessary.

4)      Roll your buddy’s hood.  Put one tuck (about two inches)  on the forehead, then begin rolling (tightly)  at both temples simultaneously by tucking in with the thumbs as you roll toward the bottom of the zipper.

NOTE:  “Clean” Marine places fingers on his voice meter to prevent breaking the seal on the mask.

5)      Gather excess hood materials and twist together.  Then secure it to the Marine’s canister using draw cord.

4.      Step 4.  Remove over-garment and over-boots.  Performing this step limits the spread of agents and helps prevent agents from penetrating through to the skin or undergarments.

a.       Remove blouse.

1)      Unfasten three snaps on back of blouse.  Do this by grasping the outside of the over-garment blouse and unsnapping each snap individually.

2)      Unfasten velcro fasteners at wrist and reattach in the loose position.  Untie draw cord at bottom of blouse, unfasten velcro covering zipper and unzip blouse.

3)      Grasp blouse by the shoulders and pull back and off.  Have “clean” Marine make two fists so he does not loose his gloves.

4)      Without touching inside of blouse, place the blouse with the charcoal side up on the deck next to the “clean” Marine’s feet.

b.      Remove trousers.

1)      Carefully unfasten buttons and unzip the trousers.  Do not loosen waist tab on sides of trousers.

2)      If the Marine is wearing GVO’s have him loosen them by alternately stepping on the heels and pulling up his foot without taking them off.

3)      Pull trousers down below the clean Marine’s knees.

4)      Instruct the Marine to walk out of the trousers and GVOs, making sure to step directly onto the charcoal side of his blouse.

5)      If the Marine is wearing GVOs, he will remove his trousers first.  The Marine will then step onto the deck making sure not to step onto the blouse.  He will then remove his boots (with buddy’s help) and step directly onto the blouse making sure not to step onto the contaminated deck.

5.      Step 5.  Glove removal.  Performing this step removes contaminated gloves and, limits the spread of contamination.

a.       Pull fingertips of the gloves and partially slide hands out.

b.      When fingers on both hands are free, hold arms away from body and let gloves drop off.

6.      Step 6.  Don new protective over-garment.  This step restores MOPP protection.

a.       Don over-garment.

1)      The “dirty” Marine will open the package containing the new over-garment without touching anything on the inside of the bag.

2)      The “clean” Marine will reach in and pull out the trousers first, if possible and don them himself.

3)      He will then do the same with the blouse.

4)      All zippers, cords, snaps and velcro will be fastened with the exemption of the trouser and sleeve cuffs.

7.      Step 7.  Don over-boots and gloves.  This also restores MOPP protection.

a.       Don over-boots.

1)      The “dirty” Marine will hold the package containing the over-boots, making sure not to touch the inside of the package.

2)      The “clean” Marine will reach in the bag, remove the over-boots and don them.

3)      Once boots are on and laced up, the trouser cuffs will be fastened and tied.

b.      Don gloves.

1)      The “dirty” Marine will hold package-containing gloves, making sure not to touch the inside of the package.

2)      The “clean” Marine will reach in the bag, remove gloves and don them.

3)      Once gloves are on, sleeve cuffs are to be fastened.  At this time the Marine will attach new M9 tape.

8.      Step 8.  Secure hood.  Performing this step restores MOPP protection.

a.       The “dirty” Marine will decontaminate his gloves before unrolling the “clean” Marine’s hood.

b.      Unroll hood, attach straps and fasten neck cord.  Check zippers and ties on the hood and over-garments to ensure they are secured.

c.       Repeat steps 2 to 8 for the “dirty” Marine.

9.      Step 9. Secure gear.  Once the MOPP gear exchange is completed, Marines will retrieve individual gear, move to the assembly area and prepare to continue the mission.

REFERENCES

NBC Defense, FMFM 11-1

Effects of Nuclear Weapons and Directed Energy on Military Operations

Field Medical Service School
Camp Pendleton, California

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Operational Medicine 2001
Health Care in Military Settings

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