d. Decontaminate by priority.
Decontaminate the most important items first and the least important items last. Unit commanders
decide which vehicles are most important to the mission. Battalion and brigade commanders decide
which elements to pull "off line" to decon or whether to decon during the reconstitution process.
Division and corps commanders must set priorities and concentrate decon assets.
PART C - NBC DECONTAMINATION METHODS
There are three methods of decontamination which can be used to lessen the impact of an NBC attack:
Immediate, Operational and Thorough.
Immediate decon is a survival skill, performed by the individual soldier, that lessens contamination to a
level which will permit the soldier to continue to fight. Operational decon is a unit level activity that is
performed to limit spread of contamination and protect uncontaminated areas so they may be used for
temporary MOPP level reduction. Thorough Decon provides the most complete decontamination of a
unit and is performed in concert with the reconstitution effort. In the following section, these methods
are explained in terms of types and techniques.
1.
Immediate Decontamination.
a. Immediate Decon is to minimize casualties, save lives and limit the spread of contamination.
Immediate Decon is carried out by individuals upon becoming contaminated. It is conducted by
individual soldiers using supplies and equipment they carry. Commanders must ensure soldiers are
trained to execute this technique automatically, without waiting for orders.
b. When chemical and toxic agents get on bare skin, you must take immediate action. Some of
these agents can kill if they remain on the skin for longer than a minute. Immediate decon techniques
are: Skin Decon, Personal Wipedown, and Operator's Spraydown.
■ Skin Decontamination. Skin Decon should begin within 1 minute after contamination.
Soldiers remove chemical or biological contamination from their skin with the M291 or
M258A1 Skin Decontamination Kit. Radiological contamination is washed away with soap
and water.
■ Personal Wipedown. Personal wipedown should begin within 15 minutes of contamination.
This procedure removes or neutralizes contamination on the hood, mask, gloves, LCE, and
personal weapon. Soldiers brush away radiological contaminants and clean chemical and
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CM 2506
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