Page 220 - 2022 Ranger Medic Handbook

Interesting facts: Hiroshima was a 15KT bomb. Ninety percent of people within 500 meters of ground zero died. At 1 mile
from the center, two-thirds were casualties and one-third died. At 1.2 miles, half were casualties and 10% died. At 2.4
miles, 10% were casualties. Cumulative death rates rose dramatically in the first 2 weeks, with 90% of them within the
first 3 weeks. Time shielding and distance from the center mattered for survival. Those in solid concrete buildings had
better chances of survival than those in wooden building. Large numbers of deaths were caused by houses collapsing.
Canine Chemical Protective Equipment: Currently there is no issued equipment for MPCs. Protective gear is limited
to booties and eye protection (RexSpecs) if the unit purchases this itself. The outer bag from an MRE, extra butyl-rubber
protective gloves or JSLIST gloves, tape, or canvas over wrap may be used in place of booties. SERPACWA (skin expo-
sure reduction paste against chemical warfare agent) may be used in nonhaired areas. There is no chemical protective
suit or mask for a dog at this time. Due to the inhaled risk of most chemical agents, the use of a MPC in an environment
known to have been exposed to a chemical warfare agent is not recommended. Any handler team inadvertently exposed
to a chemical environment may use MRE bags/gloves/booties/eye protection and SERPACWA for the animal in an at-
tempt to mitigate contamination while evacuating.
Generalized Canine Decontamination: CBRNE-contaminated animals will only be handled by individuals in MOPP4
and may require plastic aprons to prevent the suit from getting wet. An alert MPC will need to be sedated. Immediate
decontamination can occur as soon as the animal can be removed from the contaminated environment, even before
evacuation. This would be done to mitigate the rapid effects of nerve and mustard agent when there is any delay in
transport to a larger patient decontamination site. Another thorough decontamination then occurs at the patient de-
contamination site.

SECTION 6

206 SECTION 6 MPC/CANINE TRAUMA & TACTICAL MEDICAL EMERGENCY PROTOCOLS