_c._ _Decontamination._ Decontamination is an individual and first responder responsibility. However, some individuals that self evacuated or were evacuated due to the mass casualty situation arrive at the MTF that have not been decontaminated. These individuals must be decontaminated at the MTF before they are admitted to prevent contamination of the MTF and exposure of unprotected medical personnel and other patients to the TIM. See FM 8-500 for detailed information on decontamination procedures for TIM contaminated casualties.
_d._ _Treatment._ Field Manual 8-500 provides treatment procedures for some TIM casualties. Treatment for many TIM casualties is agent specific and receiving MTFs must be prepared for these events.
EXAMPLE: Treatment for a casualty exposed to toxic levels of an inorganic phosphate pesticide would be treated in the same manner as a nerve agent casualty except the amount of antidote for the pesticide poisoned casualty will be many times greater than for the nerve agent casualty.
SAMPLE/SPECIMEN COLLECTION AND MANAGEMENT
_a._ Critical elements for accuracy in analysis of NBC samples and physiological specimens are correct collecting, packaging, handling, and transporting techniques. The quality of any analytical evaluation is directly related to the quality of the sample/specimen and the degree of postcollection degradation that occurs prior to testing. Health service support personnel collect and submit specimens for suspect NBC hazards/agents involving humans and animals. Chemical corps and other nonmedical units collect and submit environmental (air, plant, and soil) samples for suspect NBC hazards/agents. Preventive medicine personnel collect and submit water and ice samples for suspect NBC hazards/agents. Veterinary personnel collect and submit food samples, such as fruits and vegetables, and specimens from animals for suspect NBC hazards/agents. Specimens collected from patients that are suspect of being exposed to a biological agent are forwarded to the supporting medical laboratory (such as the TAML, AML or US Navy Forward Deployed PVNTMED Unit) for analysis.
_b._ Essentially all military operations from war to stability operations and support operations may generate medical laboratory testing requirements. Each scenario, geographical region, population base, and suspect agent will impact on the type and amount of samples/specimens required and the collection process. During all operations, express permission is required before collecting specimens from civilians because of religious or sociological beliefs in many cultures. To obtain such specimens without permission could result in unnecessary mission complications.