Editor’s note: Sept. 28-Oct. 2 marks Hazmat Week 2026, urging all firefighters to elevate their hazmat training. Learn more about how to Know Your Zone at FireRescue1’s Hazmat Week resource center.
When I went through my initial hazmat training, decon was almost glossed over as an afterthought. There was one standard way to do it. No thought, no changes, no deviations. Same way, every time with no questions.
Two decades later, decontamination practices have changed substantially. Gone are the days of three kiddie pools and water hoses. Yes, there is still a place for water in decon of entry responders, but we should be well past that being the go-to setup.
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Over the last several years, hazmat teams have increasingly moved away from relying exclusively on traditional wet decontamination for responders and more of a well-thought-out approach toward limited water or even in some cases completely dry decon.
No matter the approach, decon decisions must be timely, coordinated and based on the hazard. These decisions must be made quickly to allow for entry personnel to move forward with problem-solving and hazard mitigation. Decon decisions cannot be the bottleneck that is holding us back.
That hazard-based approach applies to both entry-team decon and patient decon, but the two operations are not interchangeable. Each requires its own procedures, equipment and priorities.
Scale responder decon to the hazard
In certain recon-only situations, a simple handline in place for emergency decon may be sufficient when the potential for personnel exposure is low and the hazard assessment supports that decision.
Take a scenario where an abandoned barrel is left on a residential street with no markings, visible leaks or obvious off-gassing. Do we really need to set up full technical decon before personnel approach for reconnaissance and initial monitoring to classify the threat? Or is a simple handline sufficient in case personnel wearing appropriate PPE encounter something unexpected? If crews identify a hazard that requires additional decon, the corridor can be scaled up.
Obviously, more complex situations require more than a single handline. Those technical decon setups should be built around the hazards present. Do we need three pools and hoselines for a known gas with a high vapor pressure?
Perhaps the more appropriate decon is to have a couple of fans to expedite evaporation, coupled with appropriate measuring instruments, before personnel doff their PPE. This option works especially well when there is exposure to gases that are lighter than air, but it can be considered with any gas exposures. Vapor pressures should be a driving factor in the efficiency of this method.
When choosing this option, it is important to ensure that there is adequate separation of the decon corridor from surrounding areas. Consideration of wind direction with down wind chemical specific air monitoring must be in place to ensure that there are no secondary exposure issues.
Moreover, many decontamination setups can be accomplished with minimal or no water. That could mean absorbent pads or electrostatic sprayers using a minimal amount of a hazard-appropriate solution to spot-clean exposed areas of PPE. Crews can then use appropriate monitoring instruments or detection papers, when available, to check for residual contamination before removing PPE.
Plan for contamination-safe doffing
Regardless of procedures used for decontamination, doffing PPE is one of the highest-risk points for secondary contamination. As such, departments should train on a removal procedure for each PPE ensemble. In some circumstances, an approved safety cutter may allow crews to remove disposable garments with less handling, but the method should follow agency protocol and manufacturer guidance.
Patient decon requires a separate plan
Decontaminating exposed patients is a different operation from moving entry personnel through a responder decon line. Patient condition, mobility, privacy and the urgency of medical treatment all affect how the operation is organized.
In these situations, especially when there are multiple victims, water will be the go-to option for decon. Civilians should go through gross decon in the field with hoselines or showers.
If hoselines are used, plan to contain or divert runoff when practicable, but do not delay lifesaving decontamination. Local plans should identify environmental contacts and the containment measures available for different locations and contaminants.
Prepare for non-ambulatory patients
Obviously, ambulatory victims who can move themselves through the decon corridor have an easier time than non-ambulatory victims. Roller systems made for handling non-ambulatory victims are great. However, they are bulky and often not initially available on first-arriving apparatus.
Finding a workaround to get non-ambulatory victims quickly decontaminated must be established. There is always the option of backboards and carrying them through the process, but this is strenuous and staffing-limited.
An alternative may be to use two ambulance stretchers with the mattresses removed, one dirty and one clean. This allows for rolling victims through decon, much like the roller systems while lessening the workload and personnel needed. Using barrier devices, sheets and/or backboards will assist with victim movement and reduction of cross-contamination from the dirty stretcher to the clean stretcher. The level of decontamination that is obtained will certainly depend on the amount of exposure, but care must be taken to reduce cross-contamination as much as possible.
Take some time before an incident occurs to figure out which method works best for your department. I recommend keeping the same “clean” and “dirty” stretchers throughout the decon process and using additional barrier devices on any transport stretchers used. Also ensure that the hospital is aware that additional decon may be needed.
Track personal belongings
Regardless of processes and procedures used for decontamination of victims, there must be a system in place for securing and tracking personal belongings. There are several options available with barcodes and tag systems. Regardless of the methods used, a predetermined system for both logging and tracking belongings ahead of time will reduce confusion and delays during an incident. There should also be a system in place for securing, decontaminating and tracking any evidence or samples collected as well.
Plan with law enforcement
One issue we had not addressed in our preincident planning and left us scrambling for a plan was securing police weapons. Officers may be reluctant to relinquish their duty weapons. Departments should work with law enforcement partners to establish who may handle, render safe, secure and document contaminated duty weapons. The plan should address chain of custody, access control and decontamination without requiring crews to improvise during an incident.
Police canines require a separate decon plan developed with handlers, veterinary personnel and the hazmat team. Preincident planning should address the decontamination method, handler responsibilities, restraint or muzzle use, protection of the animal’s eyes and airway and access to veterinary care.
Note: Chlorhexidine solution has been used in the urban search and rescue (USAR) system with success on K-9s.
Hazmat drives decisions
The “that’s the way we’ve always done it” mindset has no place in decon. Gone are the days of the same setup for every scenario. Decon should be dictated by the mission, the hazard and the scope of the incident. Not by traditions. Pre-planning, conversations with responding partners and knowledge of local hazards should drive decision-making that focuses on the hazard, scales appropriately and considers exposure while keeping decon personnel protected. Again, the hazard should dictate the decon, not decon dictated by old habits and traditions.
