Health care facility-based decontamination of victims exposed to chemical, biological, and radiological materials☆
Received 30 November 2006; received in revised form 13 June 2007; accepted 18 July 2007.
Abstract
Since the US terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, concern regarding use of chemical, biological, or radiological weapons is heightened. Many victims of such an attack would present directly to health care facilities without first undergoing field decontamination. This article reviews basic tenets and recommendations for health care facility–based decontamination, including regulatory concerns, types of contaminants, comprehensive decontamination procedures (including crowd control, triage, removal of contaminated garments, cleaning of body contaminants, and management of contaminated materials and equipment), and a discussion of methods to achieve preparedness.
aDepartment of Emergency Medicine, University of California, Irvine, Orange, CA 92868, USA
bIndiana Primary Health Care Association, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
cOffice of Occupational Safety and Health, Department of Veterans Affairs, Washington, DC 20420, USA
dEmergency Management Strategic Healthcare Group, Veterans Health Administration, Department of Veterans Affairs, Indianapolis, IN 46202, USA
☆ Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article do not necessarily represent the view of the Department of Veterans Affairs or of the United States Government.
ABSTRACT