Battleshock--the chemical dimension

Prevention and management of panic in personnel facing a chemical threat--lessons from the Gulf War

During the Gulf War a number of subjects presented with panic, hyperventilation, and inability to wear respirators when chemical alarms were sounded, despite a perceived real chemical threat. Twenty-five such sufferers were seen at the Psychiatric Department of 33 General (Surgical) Hospital. This paper considers the aetiology of such responses, describes a mode of treatment which can be used in the threat situation, and considers issues of future training.

Assessment of casualties in a chemical environment

A trial is reported in which RAMC staff working in a dressing station and wearing full NBC Individual Protective Equipment (IPE), attempted to take pulse and blood pressure (BP) readings on casualties similarly clad. These basic parameters however, were obtained from only half the casualties, the time taken to obtain them was prohibitive and the blood pressures were inaccurate. Certain remedies are discussed but until existing equipment is modified casualties are best evacuated directly to a protected unit or out of the contaminated zone.