CH 50.3 Decontamination, Patient Care, and Responder Monitoring

What are the main decontamination types?

Emergency, mass, and technical decontamination

What is emergency decontamination?

Rapid removal of contamination from patients

What is mass decontamination?

Decontamination of many people at once

What is technical decontamination?

Thorough cleaning of responders, PPE, tools, and equipment

What is the most common decontamination method?

Dilution with large amounts of water

What is the universal decontamination solution?

Water, unless the substance is water-reactive

How much contamination may clothing removal eliminate?

80% to 90%

What should be removed during emergency decontamination?

Contaminated clothing and belongings

What is absorption in decontamination?

Soaking up liquid contamination with pads or towels

What is neutralization?

Changing a hazardous substance into a less harmful substance

Why is neutralization rarely used?

It can create dangerous reactions

How can firefighters perform mass decontamination?

Use hose streams to create a decon corridor

What is a decontamination corridor?

Area where patients disrobe, wash, and move from contaminated to clean areas

What risk exists during mass decontamination?

Hypothermia

What should happen to contaminated tools and equipment?

Leave them at the hot-zone end of decon

What should happen to contaminated protective clothing?

Bag it for decontamination or disposal

What should be minimized when treating hazmat patients?

Invasive procedures

What should happen before hazmat-exposed patients are transported?

Adequate decontamination

What is double wrapping?

Wrapping the decontaminated patient in a sheet before stretcher placement

What are corrosives?

Acids or bases that can cause severe burns

What are examples of corrosives?

Toilet bowl cleaner, lye, and hydrochloric acid

What symptoms may corrosives cause?

Skin burns, blistering, irritation, and airway burns

What are solvents?

Chemicals that dissolve other substances

What are examples of solvents?

Paint thinner and nail polish remover

What symptoms may solvents cause?

Pulmonary irritation and respiratory symptoms

What is a chemical asphyxiant?

Substance that prevents oxygen delivery or use

What is the treatment for carbon monoxide exposure?

Remove from source and give 100% oxygen

What is the treatment for cyanide exposure?

Amyl nitrite, sodium nitrite, and sodium thiosulfate per protocol

What are toxic products of combustion?

Harmful chemicals released when materials burn or decompose

What factors affect hazmat team member health?

Fitness, work intensity, PPE level, heat, and environment

What should hazmat medical monitoring include?

Incident factors, vitals, symptoms, hydration, and PPE exposure concerns

Why is hydration important for hazmat responders?

Prevents heat stress and maintains performance

What should be assessed before hazmat reentry?

Vitals, symptoms, hydration, and exposure concerns

What should happen if a hazmat responder has abnormal vitals?

Do not allow reentry until normalized

What is the paramedic’s field role in hazmat monitoring?

Observe, assess, document, and report concerns to medical control

What should happen to PPE after a hazmat incident?

Assess, decontaminate, or dispose of it properly