Solutions for Military: Chemical and Radiation Threats

03.02.2021
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The military is exposed to a wide range of natural and human-made threats that sometimes also include radiation doses and chemical exposure. This can be detrimental to their long term health. And thus, it also affects the levels of national security.

Military personnel need to be safeguarded from radiation and chemical threats. And this is possible primarily with the help of proper information and training. However, they also need to be equipped with appropriate radiation/chemical detection and protection devices.

What Threats Do Military Professionals Face?

The military faces several threats each day. These are primarily chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear threats. And the intensity of these threats is much more extreme than threats that civilians usually face.

Among all those dangers, chemical and radiation risks call for immediate attention. The situations that military personnel are likely to face are discussed below.

Chemical Threats

Chemical warfare remains one of the most pertinent risks for the military.

If we consider this threat from a theoretical standpoint, it is a risk that can be easily avoided. With proper training, protective equipment, and decontamination, the effect of chemical threats can be easily averted.

But all that is practically possible only when the risk is identified at the right time. In most cases, the military personnel are not aware of the risks that they face.

While they are trained regarding what needs to be done, they don’t know when to act. If the military personnel are not aware of a chemical’s presence, it is foolhardy to expect them to always be in protective clothing. And decontamination after excess exposure also becomes less effective.

Thus, we can effectively state that the military faces more danger from their inability to identify chemical threats than the threats themselves.

Radiation Threats

After the cold war ended, the nuclear radiation risk has significantly gone down. But that does not mean military professionals don’t face radiation risks.

Day-to-day operations and unforeseen situations can expose military professionals to a radiation dose. The effects might not be visible immediately. But it increases the chances of cancer and leukemia.

Some of the situations when the military faces radiation threats include –

Small scale nuclear exchanges. These might happen during hostile missions or even peacekeeping operations.

  • Terrorist attacks.
  • The use of radioactive materials in traditional bombs and explosives.
  • Radiation hazards or nuclear accidents, probably at nuclear power plants. The military is often asked to reach for help in such situations.

Similar to chemical risks, radiation exposure and contamination is hard to treat. Protection using the time, distance, and shielding principles can be done.  But that is possible only after the radiation danger has been identified and measured.

Timely Detection of Risks – The First Step to Protecting the Military from Chemical and Radiation Threats

 

Given the nature of chemical and radiation threats that military personnel face, it is important to first identify the risk.

Different types of chemicals and radiation are to be handled in different ways. For the officers in charge, complete information about the situation is important. Only then will they be able to direct their troops in the right direction.

Some of the information that is important for formulating a response plan includes –

The type of chemical or radiation. Like for example, is it ionizing or non-ionizing radiation. Or alpha, beta, gamma, or neutron.

  • The potency of the radiation source/chemical.
  • Exposure for how much time will cause adverse health effects.
  • What shielding material (especially in the case of radiation) will be effective.

Once the commanding officers are equipped with all this information, they can chalk out a plan of action that minimizes the risk for military professionals.

And the source of all this key information is a military radiation detector device.

Different types of devices are available in the market to help the military personnel be aware of the risks that they are facing.

Dosimeters are radiation detection devices that are used to identify the type of radiation. Advanced devices also measure the intensity of the radiation. And some dosimeters can also mention how much time can be safely spent in radiation exposure. Isotope detection devices can also be used for a similar purpose.

There are similar devices available for chemical threat detection as well.

Radiation/Chemical Detection Devices – The Problems

Radiation and chemical detection devices are extremely efficient. They can give military personnel a heads-up and help plan an emergency response plan.

But, they do not come without their fair share of inadequacies.

The market has remained flooded with dosimeters and other bulky chemical detection devices. While they can be used for medical and industrial use, their size doesn’t make them suitable for military use.

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Military personnel already have a lot of equipment and essentials to carry. And when working on the ground, every ounce of additional weightage counts. Devices and equipment can become a burden to handle too.

The only way to avoid such a counterintuitive situation is to get a handy device.

The Need for Compact And Flexible Risk Detection Devices

Identifying nuclear weapons radiation, and harmful chemicals is important for the safety of the military as well as the nation.

And a compact and flexible risk detection device is necessary for that.

A device that offers comprehensive information about the current situation is useful only when it doesn’t cause logistical issues. Handheld devices and personal dosimeters are the best for use in the military. Isotope identification devices are also a great choice for military professionals.

And ECOTEST Group understands the specific requirements that the military has from these devices.

That is what pushes us to design and develop a range of compact and flexible devices suitable for an army radiation safety program. And these devices can be carried with ease and used for personal exposure measurement as well.

And we continue to perfect our designs and technology to ensure a best-in-class user experience.

The military stands strong against all dangers, ensuring the safety of the civilians. To make sure military personnel themselves are safe, they need to be technologically equipped. And risk detection devices are the best way to keep our protectors protected.

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