Personal decontamination

DEVELOPMENT OF PERSONAL DECONTAMINATION IN CASE OF INTOXICATION WITH CHEMICAL AGENT... 

Information provided to the rescue units is required to prepare proper equipment - individual protection means needed (NIOSH Certified Equipment List database or manufacturer s instructions should be observed), antidotes and pretreatment, stretchers, individual protection means for injured and casualties, personal decontamination kits, etc. 

PERSONAL DECONTAMINATION IN CASES OF CHEMICAL TERRORIST ATTACKS... 

As the first Czechoslovak post-WW-II generation of means for personal decontamination at the lowest tactical level, i.e., at the individual first-aid level, we considered the two-solution system produced in Czechoslovakia according to the Soviet-originated model IPP-51. It was introduced under the acronym IPB-60 into the Czechoslovak Army, and under more simple modification in the first aid kit OZB into the Czechoslovak Civil Defence in the early 1960s. The same system was used for the secondary decontamination at the facilities of the medical evacuation chain (PCHB-60-P and PCHP-60-P). This system was based... 

Personal Decontamination in Cases of Chemical Terrorist Attacks... 

The hazard of a mixture of mustard and Lewisite (HL) on the eyes and skin, or vapor in the eyes or respiratory tract, is immediate. Within an hour, edema of the conjunctivae and lids begin and soon results in eye closure. Any casualty experiences serious pain seconds after contact with HL liquid, but such extreme pain makes the injured person decontaminate at once. Rapid decontamination is the sole manner to avoid severe burns since after a few minutes of contact with a mixture of mustard and Lewisite, the upper layer of skin will die and appear gray, painful erythema will be apparent shortly thereafter, and... 

Yair S, Ofer B et al (2008) Organophosphate degrading microorganisms and enzymes as biocatalysts in environmental and personal decontamination applications. Crit Rev Biotechnol 28(4) 265-275... 

Each of these factors may achieve different levels of importance depending on circumstances of use. In a military setting, portability is critically important soldiers cannot carry gallons of water for use as a personal decontaminant. However, in a civilian setting, the ready access to clean water may make water an attractive choice. Similarly, in the military setting a personal decontamination kit that deteriorates rapidly may be less useful than, for example, a pack filled with fullers earth that retains its efficacy indefinitely. In all cases, speed of action and efficacy will be important. It will be understood that corrosive materials are unsuitable for personal decontamination and may also damage delicate equipment thus, a decontaminant suitable for use on the exterior of an armoured fighting vehicle may not be suitable for use either on the skin or on electronic equipment. 

BramwellECB and Green DM (1962). The use of powders in personal decontamination. Porton Technical Paper 828. Porton Down, Wiltshire, UK Dstl. 

CAD is not intended to be used for personal decontamination, in contrast to some kits developed in the USA. Protective clothing is used to prevent skin contamination from occurring. Sensitive items that require decontamination are treated with Fuller s Earth, the primary role of which is to act as a physical absorbent. 

Decontamination of skin, clothing, and snrface is extremely important. Personal decontamination kit and decon wipes are commercial available. Equipments should be rinsed with soap and water. Honse-hold bleach, sodium hypochlorite or calcium hypochlorite, is effective against snrface contamination. Such hypochlorite solutions, as well as caustic soda, caustic potash, or sodium carbonate, can hydrolyze nerve agents and other organophosphates. 

The most important and most effective decontamination after any chemical or biological exposure is that decontamination done within the first minute or two after exposure. This is personal-decontamination. Early action by the soldier to decontaminate himself will make the difference between survival (or minimal injury) and death (or severe injury). Good training can save lives. 

Facilities for the removal and storage of heavily contaminated clothing and equipment, the personal decontamination of operators, the availability of hot showers, provision of clean clothing and radiological dose supervision also appeared to be less than adequate for a major incident. Lessons can be learned from the Chernobyl accident in this respect and facilities and procedures provided to suit the worst situation resulting from a design basis accident. However, it is difficult to suggest how accident conditions can be portrayed more realistically. 

In addition, as appropriate for their functions, protective clothing, continuous communications, respiratory protection, and stable iodine tablets, if radioactive iodine may be present, should be provided to emergency workers. If the entry into contaminated areas is anticipated, an access control point should be established protective clothing, personal decontamination equipment (e.g., emergency showers), and spare clothing should be available. All the hazards possible while performing their response duties (e.g., toxic atmospheres) should be addressed. 

For DIPHOTERINE solution, this Swedish Institute wrote The number of studies related to DIPHOTERINE is limited but a seemingly well-done study with systematic assessment of both exposure and health outcomes compares the results from initial treatments with water with that of DIPHOTERINE. The result clearly shows that DIPHOTERINE, at the surveyed workplaces, in comparison with water reduced the number of injuries in total, and also reduce the number with severe chemical bums. With the support from experimental studies and case reports, there is support for the positive effects of DIPHOTERINE for personal decontamination of strong acids and bases. ... 

Personal decontamination is with soap and water. Clean areas of the body should be protected. If clothing is contaminated, it should be removed before cleaning begins. Decontamination should continue until there is no detectable activity, or there is no further reduction of the contamination, or there is a reddening of the skin, which indicates its effectiveness as a barrier is being destroyed. 

The German Army issued two decontaminating agents to its troops. The first was stabilized calcium hypochlorite, in tablet form, referred to as Losantin. These tablets had to be made into a paste with water, applied to the skin for a few minutes, and then washed off. The second decon-taminant was a thickened ointment of chloroamine-T, which was swabbed on, allowed to stand, and finally washed off. Neither the Japanese nor the German personal decontaminants approached the American M5 ointment in efiiciency and all-around usefulness. ... 

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