9 Decontamonation Flashcards
Anything that goes into hot zone must be what before leaving
Deconed before leaving
Basic Decon principals
Get it off,
keep it off
Contain it, prevent cross contamination.
Before initiating Decon, the answers to these questions should first be answered.
Do victims need immediate Decon or can they wait
Is it safe to Decon
Any alternative Decon methods
Adequate resources available if not, get here in time
Timeline for Decon before victims deteriorate
Is equipment worth Decon or just throw it out
Emergency Decon
Immediate Decon for potentially life threatening, w.o establishment of Decon corridor
Mass Decon
Decon large numbers as fast as possible
Technical Decon
Planned and systematic reducing to as low as reasonably achievable
Usually in support of recon and operations. Detailed, soap water or additional substances or effort
Four broad Decon categories
Wet
Dry
Physical
Chemical
Most simple method of Decon
Removing outer clothing or ppe
Mass Decon usually uses What to Decon
Water or soap mix
Dry Decon
Scraping brushing absorption
Methods for dry Decon
Removing clothing or outer layers, evaporation, vacuum, brushing, scraping, using tacky surface to recover substance
Dry method can remove liquid by using absorption
Clay, sawdust, flour, dirt, fullers earth,Matisse paper, charcoal, silica gel, sponges, paper towels
Physical Decon
Removal of material without changing chem properties, it’s then contained for disposal
Dilution, absorption brush scrape, evap, isolate, was etc
Chemical Decon methods
Make material less harmful by changing it.
Sanitize with bleach, chem degradation, sterilization, sanitation, disinfect, neutralization, solidifying.
General Decon guidelines
Tech Decon before hot zone ops Begin mass Decon quickly Ppe Avoid contact with material or victims Decon may begin with division of ambulatory/not male/ female Assess hot zone victims for Decon need before moving to cold zone Clearly designated Decon entry points More clothing remove, better Responders separate Decon from victims Medical triage outside at end of Decon Privacy Warm water for washing Preserve and record victim belongings Provide clean clothes
Decon personnel must wear
Generally one level below the hot zone responders, sometimes first people running Decon are in same level as entry team
Transfer of hazmat to persons equipment and environment in greater than acceptable quantities
Contamination.
Where does triage take place
In Cold zone after Decon. Sometimes in hot zone prior to Decon in explosive type situation
Ambulatory
Can walk talk and understand directions
Factors influencing prioritiy of triage for ambulatory pt
Serious medical symptoms Victims closest to release Exposure to hazmat Evidence of contamination on them Victims with musculoskeletal and soft tissue injuries
Non ambulatory triage and Decon
May be more seriously injured than ambulatory. Left in place if not enough people to move them.
Dead victims
May need to be Deconed before going to ME. moved after all other victims are out.. Not moved until evidence and forensics is complete
Goal of emergency deco
Remove threatening contaminant as quickly as possible
Instances where emergency Decon is needed
Failure of ppe
Accidental contamination of responders
Heat illness or other injury in hot zone
Immediate medical attn required
Limitations of emergency Decon
All contaminants may not be removed
More thorough Decon deeded
May harm environment.
Advantages of emergency Decon
Fast to implement
Minimal equipment usually just water from hose
Quick contamination reduction
No formal Decon corridor
Technical Decon may be used on victims in what situation
Non life threatening
Operational level responders in technical Decon must do so under the supervision of
Hazmat tech, sop, allied proffessional
During technical Decon ops, operational level responders will typically act as follows
Protect using ppe Establish water supply Set up Decon corridor Establish perimeters Physical Decon activities, scrub wash etc Assist undress and remove ppe
Technical Decon usually takes place within
An established corridor
Many absorbents are
Inexpensive and readily available but expensive to dispose of. Work well on flat surfaces
Adsorption
Hazmat interacts or bind to material. Activated charcoal. Tend not to swell. But be compatible to avoid chem rxn
Brushing and scaling is usually used before
Other types of Decon
Chemical degradation
One chem to alter the chem structure of another. Ex bleach for bio
Materials commonly used for chem degradation not on living tissue
Bleach- sodium hypochlorite Isopropyl alcohol Hydrated lime- calcium oxide Household drain cleaner- sodium hydroxide Baking soda- sodium bicarbonate Liquid detergent
Dilution
Using water to dissolve water soluble hazmat
Evaporation
Decon by Wait long enough for chem to evap
Isolation and disposal
Collecting contaminated clothing or items and supposing of
Neutralization
Changing PH of corrosive my bringing it closer to 7. Not to be done on living tissue.
Sanitation
Reduces number of microorganism a to safe level, washing hands with soap
Disinfection
Kills most microorganisms. Antiseptics, bleach
Sterilization
Kills all microorganisms present. Chem, heat, autoclave. Usually done later, impractical on site
Solidification
Hazardous liquid chem treated to turn into solid
Vacuuming
Use vacuum and hepa to filter
Washing
Same as dilution except uses soap to make chem more soluble
Monitoring should be conducted to determine if Decon is
Working effectively
Mass Decon
Rapidly removing or reducing contaminants from multiple persons in potentially life threatening situations.
When is mass Decon initiated
When the number of victims or time don’t allow establishment of in depth Decon
Mass Decon can most readily accomplished with
Simple water shower system, high volume low pressure fog pattern, may be as long as 2-3 min
It is recommended that victims going through mass Decon remove
Clothing down to underwear
Advantages of mass Decon
Large number of people
Implemented quickly with limited resources
Reduces contamination quickly
Limitations of mass Decon
Does not always fully Decon victim
Relies on victim cooperation
Contaminated runoff.
Monitoring of victims for Decon efficacy is done
At the end of Decon, and should be sent thought again if ineffective.
Decon site selection
Wind direction
Upwind
Decon site selection
Weather
Site protected from wind, especially at end of corridor
Victims shielded from cold wind
Decon site selection
Accessibility
Away from hazards but adjacent to hot zone but easily accessible
Four crucial time periods for responders working to Decon
Travel time in hot zone
Time allotted in hot zone
Travel time back to Decon site
Decon time
Decon site selection
Terrain and surface material
Flat or sloped toward hot zone for drainage to hot zone.
Decon site details for terrain
Diving around site to prevent runoff
Hard nonporous surface
Impervious cover used if terrain isn’t suitable material
Technical Decon corridor should be sheared on the ground.
Decon site selection
Lighting and electrical supply
Adequate lighting to prevent inj. Portable lighting uses if permanent lighting like streetlights or stadium lights aren’t good enough
Decon site selection
Drains and waterways
Keep away from drains or waterways unless it’s closed system capable of being neutralized
Decon site selection
Water supply
Water must be available for wet decon
Establish Decon corridor before
Any hot zone work begins
Factors to consider when setting up Decon corridors
Ensure privacy
Privacy for people going through corridors and disrobing.
Factors to consider when setting up Decon corridors
Bag and tag clothing
Separate persona, effects in clear plastic bags, sealed with persons name on it or use numbers ticket system
All bags containing contaminated clothing should remain where
Warm zone on contaminated side of Decon corridor
Consideration should be taken to protect victims from cold if the temperature is below
64F
Hazards of cold weather Decon
Ice forming, slippery ground, hypothermia
Return of personal items may need to be conducted by whom
LE because of property issues involved.
What is required for all persons exposed or potentially exposed to hazmat
Exposure records.
