Principles of Decontamination. Objectives Define contamination and decontamination Differentiate between the concepts of exposure and contamination Identify

Principles of Decontamination



Objectives

• Define contamination and decontamination

• Differentiate between the concepts of exposure and contamination

• Identify the different types of contaminants and routes of contamination


Objectives

• Identify the physical and chemical methods of decontamination

• Describe the Hazard Control Zones • Identify three levels of PPE and Special

Equipment for decontamination• List health care considerations for

handling a contaminated patient


Case PresentationJanuary 6, 2005


Case Presentation

• 8 people die, many more exposed when a train carrying chlorine crashed, rupturing one of its tankers and releasing the toxic gas into the air.

• There were at least three hazardous chemicals on the train but officials were most concerned about the chlorine gas, which affects respiratory and central nervous systems. It can damage the throat, nose, eyes and can cause death.


Case Presentation

• Decontamination sites set up at nearby schools. Officials did not know how many people had been decontaminated at USC-Aiken and Midland Valley High School.

• At the university, two tents were set up. In one tent, people exposed to the chemicals removed their clothes and were washed down.


Case Presentation


Case Presentation

• They then moved to a second tent where they were given medical attention. Some were sent to the hospital.

• The process involved giving people fluid and oxygen to clear airways and showers to remove chemical residue.


Case Presentation


A Different Scenario

• March 19, 1995, in a crowded Tokyo subway station, religious fanatics set off a Sarin gas bomb.

• Hundreds of people were exposed, covered with the residue and breathing in this toxic gas



• 80% of the exposed victims ran to the nearest ED

• 100/472 healthcare workers showed signs of exposure and had to be treated-one was hospitalized



• Most do not wait

• This is why you need to know the basics, because you could be one of those healthcare workers!


Contamination

Contamination is any form of hazardous material that physically remains on people, animals, or objects.

Forms of contaminants include:• solids • liquids• gases


Exposure

Exposure means that a person has been subjected to a toxic or harmful physical agent through any route of entry into the body

Several routes of entry into the body:• Skin absorption• Ingestion• Inhalation• Injection • Open wound contact


Exposure vs. Contamination

• a person who has been contaminated has not necessarily been exposed.

• The term exposure is used to distinguish between simple contact and a contact with the potential of causing harm or sickness.


Contamination Routes

• Direct Contamination occurs through direct contact with the contaminant.

• Cross Contamination occurs when an uncontaminated (“clean”) person or thing comes into direct contact with a contaminated (“dirty”) person, animal or object.



• Surface

• Permeation



Permeation toxicity is determined by:

• Contact Time

• Concentration

• Temperature

• Physical State


Decontamination


Decontamination

• Decontamination is the process of reducing and preventing the spread of contaminants from a hazardous materials scene.


Decontamination


Physical Decontamination

• Physical decontamination involves physically removing contaminant from the contaminated person or object.


Chemical Decontamination

• The process of removing or reducing the threat from a specific contaminant by rendering it less harmful through a chemical change


Hazard Control Zones


PPE


Special Equipment

• Positive and Negative Pressure Rooms

• Fixed Ventilation Systems

• Safety Showers

• Eyewash Stations


Health Care Considerations

• Patient should be fully decontaminated prior to transportation to a medical facility

• Receiving medical staff should be notified when handling a contaminated patient• Patient should be wrapped in disposable fabric bags

to prevent spread of any remaining contaminants• Fatalities should be handled with same decon

procedures


• Health care facility-based decontamination is markedly different from field operations

• Health care workers are faced with medical emergencies in potentially contaminated patients

• Ambulatory patients are unlikely to wait for hazardous materials teams for transport



• OSHA has specified that health care facility personnel decontaminating patients must be trained to operations level



This completes the current presentation.

Documents

Principles of Decontamination. Objectives Define contamination and decontamination Differentiate between the concepts of exposure and contamination Identify