Question

You are called to stage at a mass casualty incident involving exposure to possible chemical agents during the event. Knowing you will likely transport one or more patients from the scene that have been grossly decontaminated in the decontamination section, what measures can you take to minimize the possible contamination of your unit during the patient care/transport encounter?

A. Use disposable equipment as much as possible, remove all equipment that will not likely be needed during transport, cover the patient and stretcher with plastic

B. Patient should be transported in a full hazmat suit after gross decontamination to prevent infecting EMS and ER staff

C. Cover the patient with sheets and blankets and administer oxygen via a non-rebreather mask to prevent spread of toxins

D. Transport the patient on stretcher and treat appropriately. Decontamination has taken place so no further danger of contamination exists.

Answer 1

To minimize the possible contamination of your unit during the patient care/transport encounter after gross decontamination, you can use disposable equipment, remove unnecessary equipment, and cover the patient and stretcher with plastic.

Step-by-step explanation:

When transporting patients who have been grossly decontaminated in the decontamination section of a mass casualty incident involving chemical agents, it is important to take measures to minimize possible contamination of the unit. A. Using disposable equipment as much as possible and removing all equipment that will not likely be needed during transport can help minimize contamination. Additionally, covering the patient and stretcher with plastic can provide an extra barrier of protection.