Decontamination & Victim Chain of Survival (Essay Sample)

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Hazmat Emergencies: Decontamination & Victim Chain of Survival
Key Points in the Article
HazMat emergencies article presents information about a response challenge to the employees in a situation where they are exposed and the victim is at risk. The response in this situation involves the victim. According to this source, a body of standards and literature guide the emergency medical services that the HazMat professionals apply in responding and treating their victims (Gunderson, Helikson & Heffner, 2014). The writers review the key standards, integrate other concepts required for effective response to a victim in the workplace, and identify the importance of time consumed between staff exposure and the emergency medical service arrival. Among other key points in the article are the types of victim decontamination and their importance in emergency response. The authors also present the key elements of a viable emergency program and the victim care procedures after response and decontamination.
Key elements of a Solid Emergency program
Hardware: These include appropriately located and functioning emergency shower systems and eyewash, first-aid supplies, PPE for the staff members and the response supplies like the absorbents, solely reserved for emergency use (Gunderson, Helikson & Heffner, 2014). All hardware should be maintained, tested periodically and inspected regularly.
Information: These include safety data records and emergency response plans for specific sites. Ideally, information can be specific to a company for instance guiding steps for highly toxic materials that usually require rapid response.
Internal Communication: The victims should be able to call for assistance and the responders should be able to summon team members for rapid response actions. Internal communication depends on the complexity and size of the operation (Gunderson, Helikson & Heffner, 2014). For this reason, communication can be using handheld radios, public address systems, shouting across the rooms, or by using emergency alarms linked to the main control alarm system with the security personnel available to monitor and alert the workplace responders.
External Communications: 9-1-1 is the main emergency line used in the United State in cases where the victim needs to dial a special number. In this case, the information on external communication lines should be included in the workforce-training program. The emergency line may or may not provide caller identification. However, the physical address should be known by the workers or captured in visible locations within the work place to enable communication to the caller.
EMS coordination on arrival: The workplace emergency response team must familiarize themselves with the EMS team upon arrival and then show them the specific locations where emergency is needed. In addition, the response team should provide reliable information to the EMS team about the emergency. The emergency points may be located far from the usual entry points like the shipping bays, front gates and front doors (Gunderson, Helikson & Heffner, 2014). In addition, the ambulance and fire services may arrive at different times and so the direct communication process should be repeated.
Training: The emergency responders should know the procedures and the correct use of the resources. The team should also be able to communicate effectively to the EMS team in case of an emergency. Lastly, the response team should understand the duty of the EMS team and how the two can work effectively together on site.
Importance of proper decontamination of victims
Decontamination is the chemical or physical process of preventing and reducing the spread of toxic material by equipment or by person. Decontamination makes supplies, personnel and equipment safe by eliminating or removing the hazardous material. Correct decontamination of the victims is importance to ensure safety and reduce incidences that risk the life of the affected individual. The following types of decontamination play a significant role in safeguarding the life of the victim.
Emergency decontamination is the initial response of reducing contamination in life threatening situations. This process could take...