Mark I NAAK
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The Mark I NAAK, or MARK I Kit, is United States military nomenclature for the "Nerve Agent Antidote Kit". It is a dual-chamber auto-injector: Two anti-nerve agent drugs -- atropine sulfate and pralidoxime chloride -- each in injectable form, constitute the kit.
Typically, U.S. servicemembers are issued three MARK I Kits when operating in circumstances where chemical weapons are considered a potential hazard. Along with the three kits are issued one CANA (Convulsive Antidote, Nerve Agent) for simultaneous use. (CANA is the drug diazepam or Valium, an anticonvulsant.) Both of these kits are intended for use in "buddy aid" or "self aid" administration of the drugs prior to decontamination and delivery of the patient to definitive medical care.
A newer model, the ATNAA (Antidote Treatment Nerve Agent Auto-Injector), has both the atropine and the pralidoxime in one syringe, allowing for simplified administration.
The use of a Mark 1 or ATNAA kit inhibits the nerve agents purpose; thereby reducing the number of fatal casualties in the advent of chemical warfare. The kits should only be adminstered if nerve agents have been absorbed or inhaled. The kits are only effective against the nerve agents Tabun (GA), Sarin (GB), Soman (GD) and VX.
[edit] How to Operate a Mark 1 Kit
The recommended procedure for self administration is as follows: 1) Remove the safety cap from the Atropine auto-injector. 2) Firmly push the green end of the auto-injector against the muscular area of the exterior middle thigh; this shoots the spring loaded needle into the muscle and releases the drug. 3) Hold for 10 seconds. 4) Remove injector from leg. 5) Repeat the same steps for the pralidoxime chloride injector. 5) No more than three NAAK kits, or its ATNAA replacement, should be administered. Once all three have been injected, inject the CANA. 6) Seek medical help as soon as possible.
[edit] References
U.S. Army Medical Research Institute of Chemical Defense, Medical Management of Chemical Casualties Handbook, Third Edition (June 2000), Aberdeen Proving Ground, MD, pp 118-126.
