s)
-Review safety data sheets
-Interview workers or others leaving the hot zone.
Where to obtain information/advice on what initial actions should be taken at the scene of hazardous material
-Emergency response guidebook
-Chemical transportation emergency center (CHEMTREC)
-Current list of state and federal radiation authorities
-Regional poison control centers
The characteristics of a rehab center
-Located in the cold zone
-Protected from weather
-Large enough to accommodate multiple rescue crews
-Easily accessible to EMS units
-Free from exhaust fumes
-Allows for rapid reentry into the emergency operation
-A chemical and/or physical process that reduces or prevents the spread of contamination from persons or equipment; the removal of hazardous substances from employees and their equipment to the extent necessary to preclude forseeable health effects
Important points for treating and transporting hazmat patients
-Field decontamination patients are not fully clean. Chemicals may settle in patients hair, groin armpits ect.
-PPE is needed to prevent secondary contamination of rescuers.
-Protect vehicles from contamination. During decon process they are soaked in water. Water could runoff and could contaminate the vehicle
-Consider used equipment as disposable. For example spine boards, stethoscopes, ect. may not be decontaminated and may need to be disposed.
-Structural firefighting clothing is not designed or recommended for use when working in hazardous material environments.
The four types of patients likely to be encountered by EMT's
-Uninjured and not contaminated
-Injured and not contaminated
-Uninjured and contaminated
-Injured and contaminated
If confronted with contaminated patients prior to the arrival of the hazmat team
-Take precautions appropriate to the substance
-Follow the first aid measures
-Manage the patients critical needs. Do not forget to manage the ABC's
-If treatment calls for irrigation with water, remember that water only dilutes most substances. If cannot neutralize remove clothing and irrigate body.
-After treating the patient, decontaminate yourself. Clothing may need to be disposed of.
Phases of decontamination
-Gross decontamination is the removal or chemical alteration of the majority of the contaminant.
-Secondary contamination is the alteration or removal of most of the residual product contamination. It provides a more thorough decontamination than the gross effort.
Mechanisms of decontamination
-Emulsification is the production of unmixable/insoluble materials using an emulsifying agent such as soap or detergent.
-Chemical reaction is a process that neutralizes, degrades, or otherwise chemically alters the contaminate. not recommended for use on living tissue
-Disinfection is the process that removes the biological contamination hazards as the disinfectant destroys microorganisms and their toxins
-Dilution is the process that simply reduces the concentration of the contaminant.
-Absorption and adsorption is the penetration of a liquid or gas into another substance.
-Removal is the physical process of removing contaminants by pressure or vacuum.
-Disposal is the aseptic removal of a contaminated object from a host, after which the object is disposed of
-Determine appropriate level of protective equipment based on materials and associated hazards
-Properly wear and operate in PPE
-Establish operating time log
-Set up and operate the decontamination line
-Prioritize the decontamination of patients according to triage system
-Perform triage in PPE
-Be able to communicate while in PPE
Decontamination for patients wearing PPE
-Rinse, starting at head and working down
-Scrub the suit with a brush, starting at the head and working down. Pay special attention to heavily contaminated areas
-Rinse again starting at head and working down
-Assist the responder in removing the PPE
-Contain the runoff of hazardous wastewater.
Decontamination for patients not wearing PPE
-Have patient remove any materials trapping materials to skin.
-Double bag their clothing for disposal or decontamination later
-Patie