Rohm & Haas Co., Philadelphia, PA received a sole-source $9.2 million firm-fixed-price contract for decontaminating powder for the M291 and M295 decontamination mask kits. Work will be performed in Philadelphia, PA and is expected to be completed by Dec. 31, 2006. The Army Tank-Automotive and Armaments Command, Rock Island, Ill. issued the contract (W52H09-05-C-0165).
According to Tactical Gear Command:
bq.. “The M291 skin decontamination kit is a soft package consisting of two flexible pockets, each of which contains three decontamination packets. Each of the packets contains a black resin that is both reactive and adsorbent. The decontamination pad is made from a nonwoven fiberfill that is impregnated with a dry resin mixture. The decontamination is accomplished by merely opening the packet and scrubbing the skin surface with the applicator pad until an even coating of the resin is achieved. Use normal precautions to keep the powder from wounds, the eyes and the mouth. Open wounds can be decontaminated with water, saline or dilute hypochlorite solutions.
The M295 decontamination kit for individual equipment consists of a pouch containing four wipedown mitts, each enclosed in a soft protective packet. Each wipedown mitt is made of a dry, adsorbent, black resin contained within a nonwoven polyester material and a polyethylene backing. This kit allows decontamination of exposed areas of the protective mask and hood, personal equipment and protective boots. Decontamination is accomplished by adsorption of the liquid agent by the resin and the pad.
p. The above information is taken from Tactical Gear Command’s “What You Need to Know About Chemical & Biological Warfare Agents and Protective Equipment.” It is not an official military document, though the answers are derived from official U.S. government documents.