Patient decontamination training is for hospital emergency department staff, nurses, security officers, facilities staff and other members of a hospital decon team. These first receivers must handle large numbers of contaminated patients after a hazmat release, terrorist attack or natural disaster. Patient decontamination training works for both new teams and refresher training.

Hospital decontamination planning follows The Joint Commission's emergency management accreditation standards. OSHA's guidance for hospital-based first receivers applies HAZWOPER emergency response training rules, 29 CFR 1910.120(q), to decon team members. Decon staff who wear respirators must also meet OSHA's respiratory protection standard, 29 CFR 1910.134.

Non-ambulatory patients are decontaminated on backboards or litters by trained staff wearing protective equipment. The team removes the patient's clothing and washes from head to toe with water and mild soap while protecting the airway. The patient is then moved to a clean surface on the clean side of the decon line.

Hospitals protect patient modesty during decontamination with separate or screened areas for men and women, privacy curtains, and gowns or covers after washing. In cold weather, heated tents, warm water and blankets help prevent hypothermia. Personal belongings are bagged and labeled so they can be returned or held as evidence.

After patient decontamination, patients are re-triaged and moved to the clean treatment area while their bagged belongings are tracked. The decon team then cleans equipment, decontaminates themselves, removes PPE safely and gets checked medically. The 27-minute English video addresses post-decon activities and how triage fits into the decon process.