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Decontamination

Charlie Jansen, a decontamination instructor, walks Fairchild Airmen through what they will be doing for the decontamination training exercise Sept. 16, 2016, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. The Air Force contracts instructors to come and teach bases biannually making sure that Airmen have the best training possible. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Sean Campbell)

Decontamination

Capt. Dan Norman, 92nd Medical Operational Support Squadron physician’s assistant, helps Senior Airman Janeen Gray, 92nd Medical Operational Support Squadron Medical Administration, don her protective equipment during a mock decontamination training exercise Sept. 16, 2016, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. The training is biannual and helps the In-Place Patient Decontamination team’s role of effectively collaborating with the manpower, security and triage teams in the case a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear event occurs. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Sean Campbell)

Decontamination

A Fairchild Airman helps set up a decontamination tent during a mock decontamination training exercise Sept. 16, 2016, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. Part of the In-Place Patient Decontamination team’s responsibility is to process ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients who have been exposed to a foreign substance and remove any contaminates before giving them access to the clinic or receiving further medical treatment. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Sean Campbell)

Decontamination

Fairchild Airmen set up a decontamination tent during a mock decontamination training exercise Sept. 16, 2016, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. The hands-on portion of the training is a full test of mission capability, which includes setting up the decontamination tent and having team members put on their protective suits in less than 15 minutes. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Sean Campbell)

Decontamination

Fairchild Airmen simulate making sure the patient is breathing during a mock decontamination training exercise Sept. 16, 2016, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. Decontamination is the process of removing surface contaminants on a person or piece of equipment. This process reduces the spread of hazardous agents to other people. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Sean Campbell)

Decontamination

Fairchild Airmen conduct a non-ambulatory patient decontamination during a mock decontamination training exercise Sept. 16, 2016, at Fairchild Air Force Base, Wash. The biannual training is broken up into six hours of lectures, two hours of personal-protective equipment training, a one hour written exam, six hours of hands-on equipment training and one hour of equipment cleaning. (U.S. Air Force photo/Airman 1st Class Sean Campbell)

Medical Airmen conduct decontamination training

Published Sept. 16, 2016
By Airman 1st Class Sean Campbell
92nd Air Refueling Wing Public Affairs

FAIRCHILD AIR FORCE BASE, Wash. -- The 92nd Medical Group conducted a 16 hour decontamination training exercise here September 15, 2016,

The biannual training reinforced the In-Place Patient Decontamination team’s role of effectively collaborating with the manpower, security and triage teams in the case a chemical, biological, radiological or nuclear event occurs. The training focused on improving teamwork, knowledge and communication.

Decontamination is the process of removing surface contaminants on a person or piece of equipment. This process reduces the spread of hazardous agents to other people, said Staff Sgt. Kristy Overton, 92nd Aerospace Medicine Squadron NCO in charge of the Optometry Flight.

“We must be ready to support the base. It is our responsibility to decontaminate all individuals requiring medical attention before they are admitted into the clinic,” Overton said. “We must be ready for any emergency contingency.”

Part of the In-Place Patient Decontamination team’s responsibility is to process ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients who have been exposed to a foreign substance and remove any contaminates before giving them access to the clinic or receiving further medical treatment, said Overton.

“If it is an adulatory patient, we have them sit down and remove all of their clothing,” said Capt. Dan Norman, 92nd Medical Operational Support Squadron physician’s assistant. “After that, the patient steps into one of the side lanes, a curtain is closed, and they are given a sponge with soap and warm water. The patient washes their body they then rinse and discard the sponge.”

The training is broken up into six hours of lectures, two hours of personal-protective equipment training, a one-hour written exam, six hours of hands-on equipment training and one hour of equipment cleaning.

“We do not see these situations every day, so the training provides a refresher you go through the motions keep it fresh so if it ever does happen we are ready to go,” said Staff Sgt. Andrew Miller 92nd MDOS NCO in charge Family Health Clinic. “One of the important things is that this training is Air Force wide.”

The hands on portion of the training is a full test of mission capability, which includes setting up the decontamination tent and having team members put on their protective suits in less than 15 minutes. Then processing the first patient in under 20 minutes.

“It helps Fairchild with the whole readiness package, if it ever does happen we are mission capable,” Miller said “We are trained even if it is not warfare – if it is just local leaks from a factory we are are prepped and ready to go and assist the community.”