MISSION SPECIFIC

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• Unit 5.2
• MISSION SPECIFIC
• Technical Decontamination

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Decontamination

• Contamination
• Direct
• Secondary
• Exposure vs. contamination

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Decontamination

• A systematic process of removing contaminates
  from victims, responders or equipment in order to
  reduce exposure and prevent the spread of
  contamination

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Decontamination

• Types
• Emergency decontamination
• Mass decontamination
• Technical decontamination
• Based on chemical and situation

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Decontamination Methods

• Wet or Dry
• Absorption
• Adsorption
• Chemical degradation
• Dilution
• Disinfection
• Evaporation
• Isolation and disposal
• Neutralization
• Solidification
• Sterilization
• Vacuuming
• Washing

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Stages of Decontamination

• Gross
• Takes place at the edge of the hot zone
• Goal Remove bulk contaminates and leave them in
  the isolation area
• Combination of dry methods

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Stages of Decontamination

• Secondary decontamination
• Occurs after gross decontamination has been
  completed
• Is conducted in the warm zone
• Goal Systematic removal of contaminates in a
  head to toe fashion
• Involves a thorough wash, rinse and removal of
  protective equipment

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Stages of Decontamination

• Tertiary decontamination
• Removal of remaining contaminates
• Usually happens in health care facility
• May be accomplished by personal shower

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Additional Considerations

• Preservation of evidence
• Tools and equipment including weapons
• Animals and criminal suspects
• Ambulatory victims
• Non-ambulatory victims
• Contain runoff
• Determine the effectiveness of decontamination

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Emergency Decontamination

• Life threatening emergency
• Strip and flush
• Medical treatment
• Secondary decontamination
• Runoff not an issue

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SERC Model

• Nine Basic Steps
• Tool drop
• Outer glove/boot removal
• Gross wash (hot zone)
• Primary wash/rinse
• Final wash/rinse
• Garment removal
• Go off-air station
• Inner glove/face piece
• Rehab and medical evaluation

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Mass Decontamination

• Goal Rapid flush of large numbers of victims in
  order to reduce the likelihood of the spread of
  contamination or long term adverse health effects
• Methods Numerous methods exist
• Single engine company
• Multiple engine company

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Mass Decontamination

• Considerations
• Large numbers of panicked people may be
  encountered scene control will be a major
  concern
• Use of hand lines and deck guns in a controlled
  and safe manner is necessary
• These are hands-off operations getting too close
  to a panicked crowd can be dangerous

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Video

• Technical Decontamination

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Summary

• Types of decontamination
• Methods of decontamination
• Stages of decontamination
• PPE considerations

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• Activity 5.2
• Field Evolution Establish Technical
  Decontamination

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