(1) =Spot decontamination.= With the patient in a supine position, spot decontaminate the skin using the SDK or a 0.5 percent hypochlorite solution. Decontaminate areas of potential contamination. Include areas around the neck, wrists, and lower parts of the face. Decontaminate the patient's identification tags and chain, if necessary.
Complete body wash is not appropriate and may be injurious to the patient. During complete body wash, the patient would have to be rolled over to reach all areas of the skin. This is not necessary for adequate decontamination.
(2) =Trauma specialist care.= During decontamination, the clothing around bandages, tourniquets, and splints was cut and left in place.
· The trauma specialist replaces the old tourniquet by placing a new tourniquet ½ to 1 inch above the old one. He then removes the old tourniquet and decontaminates the patient's skin using the M291 pads or a 0.5 percent hypochlorite solution.
· The trauma specialist gently cuts away bandages and decontaminates the area around the wound; dusts the wound with the SDK, or irrigates soft tissue wounds with the 0.5 percent hypochlorite solution. If bleeding begins, the trauma specialist replaces the bandage with a clean one. The trauma specialist ensures splints are not removed, but are decontaminated in place by applying the 0.5 percent hypochlorite solution to them, to include the padding and cravats. Splints will only be removed by a physician or under the supervision of a physician.
+----------------------------------------------------+ | =WARNINGS= | | | | 1. DO NOT apply the SDK or irrigate wounds in the | | abdominal and thoracic cavities or intracranial | | head injuries. | | | | 2. DO NOT remove splints. | +----------------------------------------------------+
(3) =Check patient for completeness of decontamination.= The patient is checked with the CAM or with M8 detector paper for completeness of decontamination.
Other monitoring devices may be used when available.
(4) =Dispose of contaminated waste.= Dispose of contaminated bandages and coverings by placing them in a contaminated waste bag. Seal the bag and place it in the contaminated waste dump.
_h._ =Step 8. Transfer the patient across the shuffle pit.=