Basic Level Pre-Course Reading

Chapter 5
Control the Situation
Emergency Washdown can be water sprayed from fog nozzles over victims from
one or more fire trucks. A high volume of water at a low pressure is required (See
Figure 9).
Figure 9
Spraying Water from Fog Nozzles for Emergency Washdown
In order to most efficiently activate the Emergency Washdown process,
responders should follow these guidelines and direct casualties to:
1. Exit to the holding area - use scene tape, rope, vehicles, pylons, etc. to
create a physical corridor which ushers people toward the entrance of the
Emergency Washdown set-up.
2. Remove clothing carefully to prevent contamination from clothing to
skin - care must be taken to limit the spread of contamination when removing
and handling clothing and footwear. Casualties can be directed to assist each
other. (Note - testing with simulated chemical agents shows that the removal of
clothing can remove most of the contaminants up to 80%.)
3. Avoid blotting or scraping - this may in fact drive certain types of agents
into the skin.
4. Place removed clothing and personal items in double plastic bags if
practical and/or feasible - in order to both limit the spread of contamination and
to preserve evidence, these items should be collected and controlled.
5. Walk through the water spray with arms and legs apart and head back -
this helps to clean more quickly.
6. Wash from the top down - if soap and water are available, casualties should
be instructed to lather thoroughly and follow with rinsing. (Note: soap and water
may NOT destroy CBRN agents but rather remove and dilute them.)
7. Avoid swallowing water and avoid getting anything but the direct spray
into the face.
CBRN First Responder Training Program
48
Basic Level Course