The foundation of a successful emergency decontamination program includes:
- Clearly articulated response objectives;
- Comprehensive policy and procedure development;
- Thorough training; and
- Resource management
Without each of these elements the proficiency of a decon program will wane over time. DQE has guided hundreds of hospitals in implementing an emergency decontamination program.
The project is accomplished by a multidisciplinary team using a combination of remote data review and onsite interviews, facility tour and meeting with key organizational stakeholders. The final deliverable is a functional Emergency Decontamination Operation Plan that establishes the foundation of your program.
DQE’s Decon Planning and Program Development Service focuses on the following areas:
- Notification and plan activation procedures
- Command, control and communications
- Response thresholds
- Special considerations (weather extremes; night decon; ambulatory, semi-ambulatory, and non-ambulatory victims; children; language issues; evidence collection; white powder and radiological events; etc.)
- Personal Protective Equipment requirements (including respiratory protection; medical surveillance; equipment inspection, maintenance, and replacement; selection and use; etc.)
- Systems deployment and operations
- Training (initial and ongoing; various levels of training depending on designated roles and responsibilities)
- Standard Operating Guidelines/Procedures (e.g., donning and doffing PPE; decontamination; Decon Area setup; Decon Area cleanup; etc.)
- Decon Team member Job Action Sheets
- Documentation forms and procedures (product identification forms; pre- and post decon procedural reports; medical surveillance; post-decon cleanup; equipment inspection, maintenance and repair; etc.)
- Pre, during and post decontamination safety
- Detection/survey equipment
- Mutual aid agreements/resources
