Wear the mask in all concentrations of FM smoke which irritate the nose or the throat. Wash any liquid splash off the skin with water. If spray or liquid splash has entered the eye, forcibly open the eye and flush it with water, then report for medical attention as soon as the combat situation permits. The prognosis is good except in rare instances where corneal erosions may lead to some permanent scarring. White Phosphorus Smoke a. Properties.
White phosphorus is a pale yellow waxy solid that ignites spontaneously on contact with air.
It is usually dispersed by explosive munitions. The WP smoke irritates the eyes and nose in moderate concentrations. In an artillery projectile, WP is contained in wedges which ignite immediately upon exposure to air and fall to the ground. Up to 15 percent of the WP remains within the charred wedge and can reignite if the felt is crushed and the unburned WP is exposed to the atmosphere. For burns due to particles of burning WP, see paragraph 9-4.