Urticants decontamination

Because of the vigorous reaction of urticants with caustics, household bleach is not an effective decontamination agent for large quantities of these materials. Reaction with hypochlorites, including household bleach, may produce toxic gases such as chlorine. 

Casualties/personnel Speed in decontamination is absolutely essential. Because of the rapid onset of effects and the speed with which urticants are absorbed through the skin, decontamination will not be entirely effective by the time the casualty experiences pain and blanching occurs. However, decontamination must still be done as rapidly as possible postexposure. Remove all clothing as it may continue to emit "trapped" agent vapor after contact with the vapor cloud has ceased. Shower using copious amounts of soap and water. Ensure that the hair has been washed and rinsed to remove potentially trapped vapor. To be effective, decontamination must be completed within 2 minutes of exposure. If there is a potential that the eyes have been exposed to urticants, irrigate with water or 0.9% saline solution for a minimum of 15 minutes. 

Small areas Ventilate to remove the vapors. If condensation is present, decontaminate the area with copious amounts of soap and water. Collect the agent and rinseate and place into containers lined with high-density polyethylene. Although urticants rapidly break down on most surfaces, removal of porous material, including painted surfaces, may be required to prevent agents that have been absorbed into these materials from migrating back to the surface and posing an extended hazard. 

Casualties/personnel Speed in decontamination is absolutely essential. Because of the rapid onset of effects and the speed with which urticants are absorbed through the skin,... 

Decontaminate the casualty ensuring that all the urticants have been removed. Rapid decontamination of any exposure is essential. If urticants have gotten into the eyes, irrigate the eyes with water or 0.9% saline solution for at least 1 hour. Irrigate open wounds with water or 0.9% saline solution for at least 10 minutes. 

Small Areas Use large amoimts of water to wash the agents into collection areas. Rinse water and runoff may contain active agent. Because Urticants are only slowly dissolved in water, and because rinsing may drive agents into cracks and crevices, decontamination will not be entirely effective. 

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