Decontamination (Personnel/Equipment)

This course prepares hospital first receivers to manage contaminated or injured victims during mass casualty incidents (MCIs). Participants will learn critical skills in triage, decontamination, PPE use, and emergency treatment area management to protect patients, staff, and hospital facilities.

• Understand the importance of first receivers in managing contaminated victims and ensuring hospital safety
• Recognize secondary exposure risks and their impact on patient survival
• Types of MCIs: chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive events
• Learn how MCIs rapidly overwhelm local healthcare resources
• OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6) role-based training levels: Awareness and Operations
• DHS Hospital Emergency Response Training (HERT) and integration with the Incident Command System (ICS)
• Conduct rapid triage using SALT (Sort, Assess, Lifesaving Interventions, Treatment/Transport)
• Select and properly use PPE to prevent secondary contamination
• Set up and manage Emergency Treatment Areas efficiently
• Coordinate with Incident Command and community emergency networks
• Tailor PPE levels to hazard assessments, including gloves, boots, chemical-resistant suits, and PAPRs
• Learn proper donning and doffing techniques to avoid contamination
• Establish and manage decontamination zones: Hot (contaminated), Warm (transition), and Cold (clean) zones
• Apply contaminant-specific decontamination methods for ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients
• Reduce hospital contamination and protect staff through effective decontamination protocols
• Assign clear roles within Hospital Emergency Response Teams
• Use the Hospital Incident Command System (HICS) to integrate with community response efforts
• Manage stress and provide peer support during chaotic MCIs
• Participate in immersive training simulations and tabletop exercises
• Conduct regular drills to improve readiness and identify gaps in response plans

Certificate of Completion in Decontamination (Personnel/Equipment) Training

OSHA 29 CFR 1910.120(q)(6) (HAZWOPER - Emergency Response)DHS Hospital Emergency Response Training (HERT) guidelines

This course is ideal for hospital staff, emergency responders, and healthcare professionals involved in mass casualty incident response.Emphasis is placed on practical application, regulatory compliance, and teamwork to ensure hospital readiness.