A chemical processing plant experiences a massive chlorine gas leak, and dozens of affected community members begin arriving at the emergency department via private vehicles. The hospital activates its Emergency Operations Plan (EOP) for a mass casualty hazardous materials incident. Which initial actions should the nursing staff take? Select all that apply.
- Establish a single, controlled entry point and direct all self-presenting clients to an outdoor decontamination zone.Answer
- Don appropriate chemical-resistant personal protective equipment (PPE) before initiating any physical contact with the victims.Answer
- Assign clients who are ambulatory and able to follow commands to the minimal (green tag) treatment area.Answer
- DClassify clients who remain apneic after airway repositioning as immediate (red tag) priority to expedite resuscitation.
- EBypass the decontamination process for clients presenting with severe respiratory distress to provide immediate life-saving interventions.
- FDelegate the initial physiological triage assessments to available unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to manage the sudden surge.
Answer
The correct actions are to establish an outdoor decontamination zone, don appropriate PPE before victim contact, and assign ambulatory clients to the minimal (green tag) treatment area.
During a hazardous materials mass casualty incident, the absolute primary priorities are protecting the healthcare facility from secondary contamination and ensuring staff safety. Establishing an outdoor decontamination zone and donning appropriate PPE ensures the emergency department remains functional. Using the standard START method, ambulatory clients are correctly categorized as minimal (green tag) priority, which efficiently clears them from the immediate treatment area so resources can be directed to critical victims.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Hazardous Materials Management and Disaster Triage Principles