Managing mass casualties and decontamination

• Planning and exercising is key to ensuring an effective response to hazmat incidents.
• Evacuation, disrobing and decontamination are critical response objectives.
• Responders should be prepared to deviate from plans when necessary.

Careful planning and regular exercising of capabilities is the key to implementing an effective response following the release of hazardous materials, although ad hoc changes may be inevitable. Critical actions which require immediate implementation at an incident are evacuation, followed by disrobing (removal of clothes) and decontamination. The latter can be achieved through bespoke response facilities or various interim methods which may utilise water or readily available (dry, absorbent) materials. Following transfer to a safe holding area, each casualty's personal details should be recorded to facilitate a health surveillance programme, should it become apparent that the original contaminant has chronic health effects.