Page 221 - 2022 Ranger Medic Handbook

MPC Immediate Decontamination: METT-TC will determine when these supplies are carried. Only one 500mL bottle of
water is needed. A chlorhexidine surgical scrub brush, a small bottle of 4% chlorhexidine scrub and a microfiber towel
are required. If mustard is suspected, flush the eyes with bottled water. Remove and discard the animal’s vest. Four
percent chlorhexidine is used and suds are generated over the entire body of the animal using the surgical scrub brush
with minimal water from the 500mL bottle. It is not a bath, no rinse occurs. The suds are worked directly onto the dry
hair of the rest of the animal’s coat. The soft plastic teeth side of the brush does not abrade the skin and helps work the
suds into the coat. RSDL is not required and may react with bleach needed later. After 5 minutes the chlorhexidine suds
are wiped off the coat with a dry microfiber towel. Remember it only requires a tsp of mustard agent (to cover 20% of the
body surface area) to be lethal for a human. That amount can be absorbed in less than 2 minutes.
MPC Patient Thorough Decontamination: When the MPC patient is evacuated to the patient decontamination site, the
same decontamination process will occur as accomplished during immediate decontamination. This is done to remove
anything that was missed. As the animal is brought in to the warm zone two extra handlers (ideally the battalion animal
technician and another dog handler) dressed in MOPP4 and plastic aprons will need to be available. Again, alert animals
will be sedated to keep them from licking themselves and soaking the JSLIST suit of the decon team. One individual will
hold the dog, protecting the airway while the other decontaminates the animal as described above in initial decontamina-
tion. After the chlorhexidine has set for the required five minutes, and the animal is sufficiently sedated, remove the collar,
intubate if necessary, rinse off (use the 0.5% bleach water if that is all that is available) if necessary (determine via JCAD)
and moved through the shuffle pit. A half-gallon of 5% (house hold) bleach goes in a 5 gallon bucket, then fill the bucket
to the top with clean water to reach 0.5% bleach solution. Once cleared by JCAD (with or without the bleach wash) the
animal is handed over the Hot Line to two other individuals in the cold zone (ideally the regimental veterinarian and the
regimental animal tech). A clean chain/biothane leash with a chain/biothane collar (from the cold side) will be applied in
the cold zone. The animal will then be checked for residual agent using the Joint Chemical Agent Detector Monitor and
moved to the triage and treatment area. After treatment the animal should be rinsed with plain water to remove any excess
chlorhexidine or bleach to prevent a skin reaction. The contaminated handler would simultaneously proceed through
the ambulatory patient decontamination area but likely be decontaminated by others. Care must be taken such that the
animal, in its excitement, does not soak and contaminate the chemical protective suits of the handlers in the warm zone. SECTION 6

2022 RANGER MEDIC HANDBOOK 207