An agricultural transport vehicle carrying toxic organophosphate pesticides overturns on a highway near a local hospital. Ten minutes later, four exposed individuals who bypassed emergency medical services arrive on foot at the emergency department (ED) main entrance, requesting immediate help. Which of the following actions should the charge nurse take? Select all that apply.
- Instruct the individuals to remain outside and direct them to the facility's designated external decontamination area.Answer
- Instruct facility security personnel to temporarily lock down the main ED doors to prevent contamination of the interior environment.Answer
- CImmediately escort the clients into an indoor negative-pressure isolation room to contain the chemical fumes.
- Ensure that any staff assisting the clients don chemical-resistant personal protective equipment (PPE) prior to rendering aid.Answer
- EDelegate the primary vital sign assessment of the exposed clients to unlicensed assistive personnel (UAP) to expedite triage.
- FInitiate immediate rapid primary surveys (Airway, Breathing, Circulation) on the clients directly in the main waiting area before decontamination.
Answer
The correct actions are to instruct the individuals to remain outside for external decontamination, lock down the main ED doors via security, and ensure staff don chemical-resistant PPE.
In any hazardous materials event, the overarching priority of the emergency response plan is to prevent secondary contamination. This is achieved by locking down the facility to control access, directing self-presenting clients to designated external decontamination areas, and ensuring that all responding personnel wear specialized chemical-resistant PPE before interacting with the clients.
Step-by-Step Solution
Key Concept
Hazmat Event Emergency Response and Secondary Exposure Prevention
Estimated Time:1m 30s