Essential Things To Carry While Traveling To A CBRN Area

Survival is challenging in a CBRN area as you encounter chemical, biological, radiological, and nuclear agents. But people still need to travel to these areas for strategic reasons such as news coverage and evacuation of victims. The risk of exposure runs high, but you can deal with it by carrying essentials to limit contact with harmful agents. You must pack your emergency bag cautiously to ensure packing everything to protect yourself from the hazards. A CBRN preparedness bag includes the basics and additional personal protective gear. Here is a checklist of essential things you must have while traveling to a high-risk area. 

Water filter

You cannot survive without water, but drinking from the contaminated supply in a CBRN area is worse than not drinking at all. Consuming contaminated water can make you sick as it has dangerous chemicals and radioactive substances. But you can be on the safe side by packing a portable water filter that fits inside your bag. You may opt for a water filter bottle with a built-in filtration system to purify water on the go. 

A medical kit

A small medical kit is another must-have for your CBRN travel bag. Ensure it has your regular prescription medicines and emergency ones for common conditions like cold, flu, nausea, and diarrhea. Add first-aid essentials such as burn and wound ointments, anti-allergy salves, cotton, and gauze bandages. Potassium iodide tablets are a critical element, as they prevent the absorption of radioactive iodine from the thyroid. Your medical kit should be compact, but it must have everything you may need in a survival situation.

CBRN essentials 

This one is a no-brainer because you will definitely need CBRN protective gear to survive in the danger zone. Carry a gas mask with filters to avoid breathing in the contaminated air. Although you will need a hazmat suit, packing a military poncho makes sense because it is lightweight enough to carry and store easily. The best part about the garment is that it offers a CBRN barrier for your skin. Moreover, it is weatherproof, so it can protect you from rain and snow. 

Decontamination tools

You must also carry valuable decontamination tools to stay safe in a high-risk area. These include specialized gloves and wipes to remove nuclear contamination and reduce overall exposure even after contact. You can wear gloves and use single-use wipes to cleanse your skin and equipment of chemical agents. Butyl gloves are ideal for CBRN protection. Carrying a Geiger counter or dosimeter is a good idea as it tells you when radiation levels rise so that you can take the necessary precautions like popping potassium iodide tablets.

Basic survival supplies

Besides packing CBRN essentials, you must carry the basic supplies to survive in tight spots. Freeze-dried food with high nutritional value is the best option for your go-to bad as it minimizes weight and bulk and has a long shelf life. Carrying a hygiene kit with essentials like a toothbrush, toothpaste, wet wipes, and hand sanitizer is crucial. Also, pack a few mylar blankets, a thermal bivvy, a lighter, flashlight, matches, and your cellphone charger in your bag. 

A CBRN bag can be a lifesaver in a disaster zone, so be sure to carry it if you need to travel to the area. Do not miss out on these essentials, and pack enough to last until you are there.