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Difficulty: MediumEmergency Response and Hazardous Materials

A local emergency management agency alerts the hospital that multiple victims of a hazardous liquid chemical spill are en route. A practical nurse (PN) is assigned to assist in the facility's designated outdoor decontamination area. Which action should the PN take?

  1. Cut off the clients' contaminated clothing rather than pulling garments over their heads.Answer
  2. B
    Apply personal protective equipment by putting on gloves first, followed by a gown and face shield.
  3. C
    Obtain baseline vital signs and a brief medical history before initiating the water decontamination shower.
  4. D
    Assign the unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to independently secure and label the hazardous belongings.

Answer

Cut off the clients' contaminated clothing rather than pulling garments over their heads.
In hazardous materials scenarios, contaminated clothing must be removed as quickly and safely as possible. Cutting garments off instead of pulling them over the head is essential because it prevents the hazardous chemical from being dragged across the client's face, eyes, and mucous membranes, which could cause severe secondary injuries or inhalation exposure.

Step-by-Step Solution

1
Analyze the scenario involving victims of a hazardous liquid chemical spill arriving for decontamination.
Identify that the immediate goal is to remove the source of ongoing contamination safely without causing further injury to the clients or staff.
Understanding the principles of emergency decontamination guides prioritizing actions.
2
Evaluate each option against safe hazardous material handling principles.
Determine that cutting off clothing is the safest method to remove garments, as it prevents dragging wet, contaminated fabric across the vulnerable areas of the head, face, and airway.
Pulling contaminated garments over the head can introduce the liquid chemical into the eyes, nose, or mouth, worsening the exposure.

Key Concept

Hazardous Materials Decontamination Principles
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Topics

Emergency Response and Hazardous Materials

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