Figure 1-6. M291 skin/equipment decontamination kit.
1-13. DETECTION EQUIPMENT
Soldiers on the battlefield need to detect chemical agents. They may use
detector papers to detect and identify liquid chemical agents. At squad, crew, or section
level, the M256-series chemical agent detector kit has the ability to detect and identify
field concentrations of nerve, blister, and blood agent vapors.
a. Chemical Agent Detector Paper. Two types of chemical agent detector
paper are issued to soldiers. ABC- M8 VGH chemical agent detector paper, called M8,
which detects and identifies liquid agents, and the M9 chemical agent detector paper
that detects the presence of chemical agents. The M9 DOES NOT identify chemical
agents.
(1) The M8 chemical detector paper (figure 1-7) comes in booklets of 25
sheets. It will detect and identify liquid V- or G- type nerve agents or H- type blister
agents. These sheets are impregnated with chemical compounds that turn dark green,
yellow, or red when they come in contact with a liquid chemical agent. Your booklet has
a color chart that will help you determine which chemical agent has been contacted.
MD0534
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