use if you become a nerve-agent casualty. The autoinjectors will be discussed later in this chapter. Familiarize yourself with your equipment. Know how it works before you need it. DECONTAMINATION The guiding principle in personnel decontam- ination is to avoid spreading contamination to clean areas and to manage casualties without aggravating other injuries. Casualty Priorities It will often be necessary to decide whether to handle the surgical condition or the chemical hazard first. If the situation and the condition of the casualty permit, decontamination should be carried out first. The longer the chemical remains on the body, the more severe will be the danger of spreading the chemical to other personnel and equipment. The following order of priority for first aid and decontaminating casualties is recommended: 1. Control of massive hemorrhage 2. First aid for life-threatening shock and wounds 3. Decontamination of exposed skin and eyes 4. Removal of contaminated clothing and decontamination of body surfaces (if not in a toxic environment) 5. Adjustment of patient’s mask, if mask is necessary 6. First aid in less severe shock and wounds The basic steps in sorting and handling casualties are indicated in figure 8-3. This plan should be modified to fit specific needs. 8-4 B E D HM3F0803 DIRTY CLEAN WOUNDED CLEAN CLEAN CLEAN TREATMENT ADDITIONAL MEDICAL AID. AWAITING EVACUATION. CONTAMINATED EMERGENCY DIRTY IMPROVISED AREA OR SPECIALLY DESIGNATED FACILITY FOR EMERGENCY OPERATIONS ON CONTAMI- NATED WOUNDED WHO ARE DECONTAMINATED WHEN INDICATED. CLEAN CONTAMINATED CONTAMINATED EMERGENCY CONTAMINATED WOUNDED FREE VENTILATION; SOME COVER. REMOVE CONTAMINATED OUTER CLOTHING, GEAR, AND BLANKETS. SPEED IN UNDRESSING DESIRABLE. CHANGE TO CLEAN LITTER, BLAN- KETS. SKIN PENCIL AREAS OF CONTAMINATION. UNDRESSERS, BEARERS MASKED AND PROTECTED. DIRTY SENTRY MAY BE WARMED. UNDERCLOTHES REMOVED AND PASSED FORWARD OR PLACED IN FREQUENTLY EMPTIED SACKS OR BINS. OINTMENT OR SOAP AND WATER TO SKIN AREAS BELIEVED EXPOSED. WASHING FACILITIES. ATTENDANTS MASKED, PROTECTED. ALL CASES AND RECORDS RECEIVED. Figure 8-3.—Basic steps in sorting and handling casualties.