1. Maryland Fire and Rescue Institute Instructor Danny Braitsch
Mass Decontamination

2. Objectives
Describe what a contaminant is and define decontamination and mass decontamination
List the possible indications for use and/or types of emergency incidents that may necessitate the need to conduct mass decontamination
Describe the appropriate fire department resources necessary to successfully conduct a mass decontamination
List additional considerations that need to be accounted for when conducting mass decontamination
Discuss the importance of becoming familiar with policies and procedures specific to one’s own AHJ regarding mass decontamination

3. Contamination
The transfer of a hazardous material from its source onto people, objects, animals, the environment, etc.
Contaminants may include
Released hazardous materials
Gaseous, liquids, or solids
Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD), acts of terrorism
Chemical agents, biological agents, radiological agents

4. Contaminants Chemical Agents Biological Agents Radiological Agents
Nerve agents, blistering agents, blood agents, choking agents
Biological Agents
Organisms that attack the body causing disease
Radiological Agents
Alpha, Beta, Gamma particles
Time, distance, shielding
Retrieved from:

5. Exposure VS. Contamination
No hazardous material is transferred onto the exposed person’s body or clothing
Symptoms may develop
Less occasion of cross-contamination or off-gassing between carriers
Contamination
Hazardous material is transferred onto person and/or on clothing
Symptoms may develop and will persist/worsen as long as contaminant remains
Cross-contamination and off-gassing more likely

6. Decontamination Decontamination (”decon”)
The physical and/or chemical process of reducing or entirely preventing the spread of contaminants from persons, objects, animals, the environment, etc
Contaminants may include hazardous materials or weapons of mass destruction (WMD)

7. Wet Decontamination VS. Dry Decontamination
Removing clothing
Washing hands, face, and other exposed body parts
Best for use on ambulatory individuals not experiencing symptoms
Wet Decontamination
Contamination by solids or liquids, as opposed to gases or vapors
Emulsification required for non-water-soluble contaminants
Contaminants with lower vapor density do not evaporate quickly, remain persistent, and may linger for days

8. Mass Decontamination
Mass decontamination is an organized and systematic process of decontaminating a large number of people as quickly as possible
Process includes gross decontamination followed by technical decontamination
Gross decontamination
Not thorough
Pre-wash for bulk-removal of contaminant
Technical decontamination
Very thorough, involving cleaning products and scrubbing
Removes remaining contaminants from crevices and overlooked areas

9. Indications for Use of Mass Decontamination
Large number of contaminated persons
Persons are ambulatory
Persons are suspected to be contaminated by a hazardous material
Individualized decontamination in a one-on-one manner would exceed available resources

10. Fire Department Response
Conduct a size-up
Identify the incident as a hazardous materials incident and/or rule out terrorism involvement/WMD event
Determine the need for mass decontamination
Establish control zones
Hot, Warm, Cold zones
The decontamination unit/corridor should be located in the Warm Zone
Isolation procedures per Emergency Response Guidebook
Request appropriate resources per SOPs
Special Operations for hazardous materials technicians and specialists
Police
EMS
Decon Unit, if available

11. Fire Department Response
Considerations:
Characteristics of the hazardous material
Utilize Emergency Response Guide for initial operations and isolation procedure
The nature of the release
What is the source of the release of hazardous material?
Was this an act of terrorism? Consider secondary release targeting emergency responders
Responder safety is First Priority

12. Fire Department Response
Considerations:
Multi-agency or multi-jurisdictional involvement
Communications
Unified Command
Are evacuations or shelter-in-place procedures required?
Injuries or fatalities
Consider START triage
Request additional resources
Technical expertise
Equipment needed to effectively perform mass decontamination
Duration of incident

13. Conducting Mass Decontamination
Fire apparatus can be used for simple mass decontamination
Two engines discharging fog nozzles can assist in gross decontamination
Utilize a pool to collect run-off from the contaminated person

14. Conducting Mass Decontamination
Fire apparatus can be used for simple mass decontamination
Two engines discharging fog nozzles and an aerial apparatus discharging overhead can effectively perform gross decontamination

15. Retrieved from: http://3. bp. blogspot

16. Conducting Mass Decontamination
Fire apparatus can be used for simple mass decontamination
Personnel can assist in conducting mass decontamination as well

17. Retrieved from: https://redwoodsmedicaledge

18. Conducting Mass Decontamination
Technical decontamination often requires the involvement of Special Operations Hazardous Materials Technicians/Specialists and units dedicated to conducting technical decontamination
Buses/trailers/pods
Units built solely for decontamination

19. Conducting Mass Decontamination
Decon 11 Scaggsville, Sta 11 Howard County, MD
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20. Additional Considerations
Wind Direction
Position and stage up-wind to avoid wind blowing debris or gas and vapors from the hot zone towards the cold zone
Uphill
Position and stage uphill to avoid debris liquid or solid hazardous matter from moving downhill from the hot zone towards the cold zone
Warmth and shelter for patients
Protect from extreme cold conditions in winter and extreme heat conditions in summer

21. Familiarize Yourself
It is important to be familiar with your own jurisdiction’s SOPs and GOs
Know policies regarding mass decontamination, hazardous materials response, WMD incidents
Some departments may require decontamination units and special operation units from surrounding jurisdictions or state resources for large-scale mass decontamination efforts
It is important to train for these rare emergencies in order to be prepared in case these incidents occur

22. Summary
Defined contaminants, decontamination, and mass decontamination and reviewed components of each
Discussed the possible indications for use and/or types of emergency incidents that may necessitate the need to conduct mass decontamination
Discussed the appropriate fire department resources necessary to successfully conduct a mass decontamination
Reviewed additional factors that need to be accounted for when conducting mass decontamination
Discussed the importance of becoming familiar with policies and procedures specific to one’s own AHJ regarding mass decontamination

23. References
Cibulsky, S. M., Kirk, M. A., Ignacio, J. S., Leary, A. D., & Schwartz, M. D. (2014). Patient Decontamination in a Mass Chemical Exposure Incident: National Planning Guidance for Communities, US Department of Homeland Security, Dec Retrieved from: Guidance_Final_December% pdf. Rapid Access Mass Decontamination Protocol, (2003). The Capital Region Metropolitan Medical Response System, Harford, CT. Retrieved from: Schnepp, R. (2009). Hazardous Materials Awareness and Operations, Jones and Bartlett Learning, All pictures used are referenced at-image