2-6.
ADMINISTER THE FIRST NERVE AGENT ANTIDOTE
After the casualty is masked and hooded, you must administer injections of
injections of atropine and 2-PAM chloride. A casualty with signs of severe nerve agent
poisoning will be unable to administer antidote to himself. Administer all three kits of
nerve agent antidote.
a. Obtain Autoinjector Kit. Remove one nerve agent antidote autoinjector kit
from inside the pocket of the casualty's mask and carrier if the temperature is near or
below freezing, the casualty may be carrying the autoinjectors in another location.
(1) If you cannot find the nerve agent antidote kits, look around the
immediate area for unused autoinjectors. The soldier may have been trying to give
himself an injection and dropped the autoinjectors when he was overcome by the nerve
agent.
(2) If you do not find unused autoinjectors, look for used autoinjectors,
attached to the casualty's clothing or lying near the casualty. The casualty may have
been able to administer injections to himself before he was overcome by the agents.
This is especially true if the casualty was masked when you found him. If he has
already given himself one set of nerve agent antidotes, then administer the two
remaining Mark I kits.
b. Locate and Prepare Injection Site. Normally, the injections are given in the
casualty's thigh muscle. If the casualty is very thin, roll the casualty onto his chest so
that his buttock is in position for the injection.
(1) Thigh. If you are going to inject the antidote into the casualty's thigh,
position the casualty on his back and squat near his left thigh. Locate an area on the
large muscle on the outer part of the casualty's right thigh. The site should be at least
one hand's width above the hip joint and at least one hand's length above the knee. Do
not inject in an area close to the casualty's knee or hip joint (figure 2-3A). Check the
casualty's pocket to make sure that the needle will not hit anything in the pocket when
you give the injection.
(2) Buttocks. If you are going to inject the antidote into the casualty's
buttocks, position the casualty on his chest and squat near his left hip. Locate an
injection site in the upper outer part of the casualty's left buttocks (figure 2-4A). If you
inject the casualty in another part of his buttocks, you run the risk of hitting a major
nerve or blood vessel. Check the casualty's pocket to see that the needle will not hit
anything in the pocket when you give the injection. If the casualty's jacket is covering
the injection site, lift the bottom of the jacket, since the needle may not penetrate the
jacket.
MD0534
2-10