You are called to a local industrial complex for a potential hazardous materials incident. The dispatcher reports to you that approximately 30 workers have been affected and that several workers have been overcome by fumes. The specialized hazardous materials response team has been dispatched but will arrive approximately 20 minutes after your ambulance. Upon arrival, you are met at the gate by a worker who points to a large white tank next to the building which is the apparent source of the contamination. On the side of the tank you see a multi-colored NFPA 704 symbol with a number four (4) located within the blue diamond, a number one (1) located within the red diamond, a number one (1) located within the yellow diamond, and no indicator located within the white diamond. You are immediately approached by a crowd of approximately fifteen workers who state that they were exposed to fluid which was leaking from the tank.
What is your next immediate action?
A . Begin to triage the patients and obtain baseline vital signs
B . Mix a weak bleach solution and tell the victims to use it to decontaminate their exposed skin
C . Have the patients remove their clothing and begin to rinse them with water
D . Ask the patients to remain in a single location until the hazardous materials team arrives
Answer: C
Explanation:
Based upon the fact that the substance involved has already been identified as posing a significant health hazard, time cannot be wasted prior to initiation of field expedient gross decontamination. The universal decontaminating solution is water, and no time should be wasted in beginning to rinse any potential contamination away with it. Removal of the outer layer of clothing will immediately reduce the level of contamination on the victims. It is unreasonable to expect that the victims will wait for the hazardous materials team to arrive and begin decontamination. At no time should EMS personnel jeopardize their own safety by performing physical assessment or obtaining vital signs from potentially contaminated victims. Although weakened bleach solutions are sometimes used for decontamination, water is the best choice when the exact contaminating agent is unknown.