Shelter-in-Place Suggestions

Field-expedient protection includes steps taken to provide immediate protection of personnel/materiel and to enhance protection of mission-essential facilities in the event of an incident. These procedures and planning factors are often included in emergency-action discussions of “protection in place” when it is required to sustain critical operations through an event or key infrastructure facilities that may be a target. The following discussion focuses on four basic concepts.

a. Sealing Air-Infiltration Points. Ideally, sealing the inside of a building/room should be done before the attack or incident. Particular care must be taken to ensure that all openings to the outside that can possibly be sealed are ready for immediate sealing at first warning.

(1) Precut and position sealing materials for doors so that final sealing requires minimum response time. Once an attack occurs, sealed doors are no longer usable and the door should be labeled as being sealed. Based on weather, preseal windows and other openings. Seal all air conditioning (AC) and heating vents and ducts leading to the inside/outside. Materials should be precut and positioned, ready for use.

(2) Some openings lend themselves to sealing or packaging material generically referred to as “foam-in-place” packaging systems available through local procurement. Foam-in-place is a generic term for a commercially available packaging/sealing material that expands when sprayed onto a surface or into an enclosed area.

b. Using NBC or Expedient Covers. Keep supplies indoors, if possible. Always keep the supplies covered whether stored indoors or outdoors. Uncover supplies only long enough to retrieve needed items. When practicable, cover all equipment. When not in use, park equipment under overhead cover. If insufficient NBC or expedient covers are available for the amount of equipment/supplies to be covered, prioritize by need and equipment/supply availability to determine which supplies and equipment will be covered.

c. Using NBC or Expedient Shelters. Designate and prepare shelters before an attack/incident and routinely use them during exercises. These shelters may include approved NBC or expedient shelters.

d. Using Multilevel Buildings (Vertical Separation). Chemical agents tend to be heavier than air (selected blood agents are excluded). When preparing alternate C² and medical facilities, use floors above ground level to avoid the full impact of chemical agents. Prepare and use the sealing techniques previously discussed.

3. Summary

Train all personnel on where, when, and how to protect themselves, equipment, and supplies under NBC conditions. Follow up with exercises and drills to reinforce and sustain training proficiency. Postattack actions should also be addressed during attack/incident exercises. Establish and maintain protective postures for required civilians, as well as military forces. Establish and maintain protective-equipment serviceability programs according to the specific items’ technical references. Table B-1 is designed to assist the commander in providing protection-in-place options.

Table B-1. Protection-In-Place Options

Table B-1. Protection-In-Place Options (Continued)

4. Expedient Actions

The following expedient actions can greatly enhance the protective capabilities of a medical-treatment facility:

1. Seal all windows, doors, and other outside openings with tape and plastic sheeting.
2. Turn off the AC/heaters and set up an air lock-type entry/exit way.
3. Activate air handlers if they are available to provide a positive facility overpressure. This will further reduce the incidence of contamination entering the facility.
4. Use these procedures to allow additional time for hospital personnel to provide patients with some degree of individual protection for staying in place or for transport away from the contaminated area.