Hazmat 7 Decontamination Procedures Flashcards
Toxic levels of a material may be trapped inside clothing, which can vaporize (off-gas) and continue to harm people even after they have left the scene. What is the most important action that we can take to alleviate this?
Rapid physical removal of the material from the victims is the single most important action associated with effective decontamination.
Reasons for decontaminating exposed victims are?
- Removal of the agent from the victim’s skin and clothing to prevent any additional exposure.
- Protecting responders and medical personnel from cross contamination.
- Providing psychological comfort to the victims by removing contamination.
All exposed people must be immediately removed from the area of the release to an area of safe refuge. What zone is the area of safe refuge established?
2.3
This area of safe refuge is considered to be in the warm zone, but is physically removed from any contamination and thus prevents any additional exposure to the released agent.
The concept of the Mass Decontamination Procedure is to establish a “Gross Decontamination Corridor”. Process the contaminated victims from the hot zone or area of safe refuge to the cold zone, where they can safely be released or transported to a medical facility for further care.The purpose of the corridor is to remove the contamination from the victim. This process is accomplished in what two steps?
- 3
- Have the victims remove their outer clothing
- Wash the victims down with water – soap can be added to the process if available. Ideally, removal of victims’ outer clothing should be the first step in the Decon process after removing people from the contaminated area. Street clothing will absorb liquids, which will continue to vaporize and further expose the wearer. Quickly removing outer clothing vastly reduces the exposure time, and thus the total dose received, of any contaminant. Also, a stream of water, even in a fog spray, will drive any liquid contaminant further inside clothing towards a victim’s body, increasing the likelihood of skin absorption. Civilians must be informed of the benefits of removing their outer clothing and encouraged to do so. There will be some people who will not remove their clothing, regardless of the circumstances or the benefits. Such persons should be encouraged to remove what they will, and continue through the Decon process.
How do we decon a member wearing full bunker gear including an SCBA?
2.3.
For a firefighter wearing bunker gear, SCBA, gloves, and a hood, the percentage of contamination eliminated by removing outer clothing is even higher than ninety percent. The bunker gear should be removed while continuing to wear the SCBA with the facepiece to protect the respiratory tract. The SCBA is removed, with the facepiece remaining on, and the member holding the SCBA via the strap. Another member should then remove the bunker gear. After the bunker gear has been removed, the facepiece is then taken off and the firefighter sent to the gross Decon.
Removing a victims clothing removes up to ____% of the contamination?
Studies have shown that removing a victim’s clothing removes up to ninety percent of the contamination.
When utilizing a a 2½” handline equipped with an Aquastream fog nozzle for Decon what is the recommended operating pressure range?
2.4.3
They must monitor the operating pressure of their line to ensure that it is not too forceful for the victims. The recommended operating pressure range is between 50 to 80 psi.
When additional handlines can be deployed they shall be operated opposite each other approximately how many feet apart?
2.4.3
Consideration can be given to the use of two handlines operating opposite each other, approximately 25’ – 30’ apart, to form a large
shower area that multiple victims can move through at the same time. Care must taken to avoid pushing the contamination across to the opposing nozzle team.
Utilizing two pumpers and greatly increases our decontamination capabilities. How should they be positioned: How many Feet apart? What type of nozzle is used? Where should the control panel be? What is the reccommended pressure?
- 4.4
a. Position two pumpers parallel to each other approximately 25 feet apart with the control panels facing the outside.
b. Place an Aquastream fog nozzle on each pumper on a selected inside discharge gate. Additional discharges and nozzles can be used if available.
c. Operate the nozzles in the fog position.
d. Monitor the operating pressure to ensure the stream is not too forceful. The recommended operating pressure is 50 to 80 psi.
When adding a Tower Ladder and/or an Aerial Ladder to the pumpers being used for decon what type of nozzles are used?
2.4.5
AA-TT
Other options include positioning a tower ladder with a Turbomaster fog nozzle or an aerial ladder with a ladder pipe and Aquastream fog nozzle at the edge of the water spray formed from the pumpers.
If a tower ladder or aerial ladder is not available or will be delayed, a 3rd pumper with an Aquastream fog nozzle attached to the apparatus mounted multiversal nozzle can be positioned where?
2.4.5
If a tower ladder or aerial ladder is not available or will be delayed, a 3rd pumper with an Aquastream fog nozzle attached to the apparatus mounted multiversal nozzle can be positioned parallel to and in line with one of the first two pumpers.
When using the two pumpers and an aeriel/Tower ladder or a 3rd pumper the water spray shower areais how wide and long?
2.4.5
This configuration should produce a water spray shower area approximately 20 feet wide by 30 feet long, which the victims can now be directed to pass through.
In immediately life threatening exposures where emergency decontamination is necessary what can we use for a quick gross decon?
2.4.6
Fog nozzles can be attached to the multiversal on an engine, or to a tower ladder outlet, for a very quick gross Decon setup.
