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Patient Decontamination in a Mass Chemical Exposure Incident: National Planning Guidance for Communities

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The Countering Weapons of Mass Destruction (CWMD) Office was established in December 2017 by consolidating primarily the Domestic Nuclear Detection Office, a majority of the Office of Health Affairs, as well as other DHS elements.

For current information related to CWMD, please visit the following:

The document “Patient Decontamination in a Mass Chemical Exposure Incident: National Planning Guidance for Communities” provides non-binding recommendations for first responders dealing with mass chemical exposure incidents. The need for examination of current patient decontamination practices was identified by experts in the emergency response and medical communities and the White House National Security Council followed-up with a request to DHS and HHS for an evidence-based national planning guidance for mass patient decontamination in a large scale chemical release. Efforts to enhance preparedness for patient decontamination in a mass exposure incident may also benefit the care that is provided to individually contaminated patients in other circumstances. The guidance is intended for senior leaders, planners, incident commanders, emergency management personnel and trainers of local response organizations and health care facilities.

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Patient Decontamination in a Mass Chemical Exposure Incident: National Planning Guidance for Communities PDF 1.37 MB
Last Updated: 05/17/2022
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