a. Connect Hoses. The foot pump has an air hose attached. The tube ends
in a "Y" connector which has two other tubes attached, one short and the other longer.
The shorter tube ends in another "Y" connector with two tubes attached. The tubes
connected to the second "Y" are used to inflate the legs of the MAST. The longer tube
from the first "Y" is used to inflate the abdominal section of the MAST. The foot pump
and the hoses are shown in figures 7-4, 7-5, and 7-6.
(1) Connect the end of one of the short tubes to the tube attached to one
of the legs of the MAST (figure 7-7). Use a twisting motion when connecting the
tubes.
(2) Connect the end of the other short tube to the tube attached to the
other leg of the MAST. Use a twisting motion when connecting the tubes. The air
tubes will now look like figure 7-8.
(3) Connect the remaining long tube to the tube attached to the abdominal
section of the MAST. Use a twisting motion when connecting the tubes.
b. Open Stopcock Valves. There are three stopcock (inflation/deflation) valve
knobs on the MAST that control airflow. One stopcock valve knob is located on the
tube attached to the right trouser leg and another is located on the tube attached to the
left trouser leg. The third stopcock valve knob is located on the tube attached to the
abdominal section. Normally, all three knobs will be in the closed (no airflow) position.
Turn the stopcock valve knobs on all tubes to the open position (figure 7-9).
c. Check Blood Pressure. Check the casualty's blood pressure again before
inflating the MAST.
d. Inflate the Medical Anti-Shock Trousers. If the MAST are used for the above
indicated uses, all three compartments should be inflated until the Velcro closures begin
to break away (a crackling sound should be heard). At this time, the patient should be
monitored for response.
e. Close Stopcock Valve Knobs. Turn the stopcock valve knobs on the tubes
to the closed position (figure 7-10). The pressure exerted by the MAST will remain
equal and constant.
MD0554
7-12