Lesson 9Decontamination

Intermediate Level

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Objectives:• Describe the Decon Process• Describe a Decon facility• Describe incident and post-incident contamination control• Describe control of casualties• Describe Decon solutions• Describe a Decon set-up• Describe specific roles in the Decon process, Decon

management, pre Decon, Decon Techniques, solutions, delivery of clean patients, equipment and responder action

• Doff PPE for Decon• Work in CBRN PPE with confidence

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Definition of termsDecontamination – is the process by which individuals or

equipment are cleanse of CBRN materials.

Decontaminated – is a state when all CBRN material has been totally removed from individuals and equipments.

Mass Casualty Decontamination

- is a complex process that will see the integration of field pre-decontamination and emergency washdown (EW) procedures for mass casualties in conjunction with purpose specific decontamination facilities.

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Decon

Hot Zone Emergency Egress

Pre Decon

Responder Egress

Boot Wash

PPE Removal

Decon Facility

Responder Rehab Area

Entry Route

Decontaminated CasualtyTriage, Treatment and

Transport

Wind Direction

Red - Hot Zone/ Emergency EgressOrange - Warm Zone –Hot Zone Entry and Egress Routes, DeconBlue - Cold Zone

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Other factors

• Post incident decontamination

• Sources of secondary contamination

• Control of casualties

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Decontamination

Undressing Procedures From One-Piece CBRN PPE

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CBRN Specific PPE

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Decontamination

Undressing Procedures From Two-Piece CBRN PPE

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PRE DECON SET UP AT HOT ZONE

Table for managing transfer of equipment

Radioactive Waste Bin

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Final Decontamination

• This is also the technique that will be performed during the initial clean/dirty line setup

• A person who clears final Decon is permitted access to the general public

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Final Decontamination

• Proceed through portal monitor (if available) rotating 90 degrees to ensure all four sides of person are monitored. If alarms, remove PPE. If PPE already removed, move to primary bench.

• Primary bench – any positive find results in the removal of the contaminated clothing. Clean persons may exit at this point.

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Final Decontamination

• Secondary bench – repeats full body monitoring and all decontamination cleaning is performed here. For cleaning of the skin, the least aggressive method is used first and abrading of the skin must be avoided.

• Any removed clothing must be bagged and tagged.

• Once clean, person and/or object may exit to Rehab.

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Final Decontamination

EXIT

COLDZONE

WARMZONE

ENTER No ALARM

Rad WasteRemoval ofContaminated PPE

Portal Monitor

Clean

Rad WasteRemove all PPE Rad Waste

CleanDirty

Alarm

Removal ofContaminated PPE

Removal ofNon-PPE and Cleanig

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Decontamination of Chemical / Biological Agents

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Expedient Decontaminants for Chemical and Biological Warfare Agents• Bleach

• Dilute Sodium Hydroxide

• High Test Hypochlorite (HTH)

• Swimming pool Calcium Hypochlorate “Slow Release Chlorine”

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Bleach

• Only available as a solution with water - 4% residential - 6% commercial - 10.8% swimming pool supply

• Effective against nerve agents• Highly effective against all biological agents even in dilute

solutions

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Bleach - Employment

• Slower activity with mustard due to poor solubility• Used at DRCC in field trials as a CB suit decontaminant on - foot bath - glove rinse - general spray on CB suit• Undiluted bleach should not be used on kin

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Potassium Hydroxide

• Available as solid pellets that absorb moisture on contact with air

• Must be dissolved in either water or alcohol to be an effective decontaminant for CW agents

• Highly corrosive• Cannot be used on skin• Effective decontaminant for biological and nerve agents

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Potassium Hydroxide

• Slower reactivity with mustard due to poor solubility

• Typical concentrations of 10% w/v in either water, methanol, ethanol or isopropanol make an effective decontaminant.

• Sodium hydroxide/methanol solutions are used at DRDC-Suffield as a general laboratory decontaminant for CW agents.

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Super Tropical Bleach and High Test Hypochlorite

• Calcium hypochlorite

• Available as a reactive powder that can be used directly on liquid agents, but most effective against CW agents when mixed with water to form a slurry

- 60% STB or HTH with 40% water

• Effective against all chemical and biological agents

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Swimming Pool“Slow Release Chlorine”

• Alternate names: - sodium dichloro-s-triazinetrione - sodium dichloroisocyanurate - Fichlor - CBD Clearon

• One of the reactive ingredients used in CASCADTM decontaminant system

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Absorbent Materials• Can be used to contain liquid CW agent contamination• Will reduce the vapor hazard• Examples - Fuller’s Earth - Hazmat Spill Kit products - Zeolite Products “Kitty Litter”

• CW agents absorbed on materials are still present and must be destroyed

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Reactive Skin Decontaminant Lotion (RSDL)What Is It?• RSDL is a viscous lotion that is applied by hand (or gloved

hand) to skin surfaces• RSDL is available in single use green pouches with foam

applicator (45 ml of liquid) and 100 ml and 500 ml bulk liquid for larger area medical decontamination

• Training lotion that contains no active ingredients is also available in blue pouches.

• The level of training required to use RSDL is about the same as that needed to apply suntan lotion.

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Conclusions

• Decontamination products and chemicals that are effective against both chemical and biological warfare agents are available to first responders.

• The problems of contamination control and decontamination are not insurmountable for trained and knowledgeable personnel.