Patient Management – Decontamination

•Patient decontamination should be performed after stabilization of the patient. Removal of clothing usually occurs in the field, prior to transport to the hospital.

•The approach to decontamination as described in the slide will minimize contamination of and exposure to attending personnel.

•If internal contamination is suspected, take nasal swipes and 24 hour urine and fecal collections.

•Unfamiliar embedded objects in patient’s clothing or wounds may be radioactive sources. Handle with long forceps, handle only briefly, and keep distant from staff and patients until proven, with a survey meter, not to be radioactive. If radioactive objects are recovered, they should be placed in a lead container using tongs or forceps and then placed at a distance from staff and patients.