NCJ Number
190656
Date Published
August 2001
Length
12 pages
Annotation
This paper examines the effectiveness of expedient protection strategies to reduce exposure to vapors from chemical warfare agents.
Abstract
In addition to evaluating the technical effectiveness of expedient protection strategies, the paper examines the physical and psychological effectiveness of measures such as using a wet towel to seal a door jam against the infiltration of chemicals while sheltering in place or to provide expedient respiratory protection. Respiratory protection for civilians has never been considered a viable option for population protection in the Federal Emergency Management Agency Chemical Stockpile Emergency Preparedness Program. Problems of storage, ability to effectively don respirators, and questionable fit have been primary factors in rejecting this option. The paper considers that expedient respiratory protection offers the population little protection against chemical agent vapors. It discourages using wet towels as a vapor barrier at the bottom of a door. The wetted towel provides no vapor filtration and its effectiveness in infiltration reduction was unknown. Taping the bottom of the door would likely provide greater infiltration reduction, and the paper recommends taping as the method for use in sheltering. Overall, the non-physical benefits of expedient respiratory protection do not exceed the potential problems. References