Local Hospital's response actions

Actions (as appropriate and practical):

  • Operate under the Incident Commander
  • Follow personnel protection guidelines
  • Brief health care staff on negligible risk in treating contaminated patients if appropriate precautions are followed
  • Have law enforcement provide a cordoned area around the hospital(s) to redirect worried-well to the secondary location
  • Prepare ambulance reception area and treatment area
  • Set up a controlled area and control lines
  • Prepare the medical staff. Use universal precautions
  • Assess and manage injuries (assumed to be contaminated):
    1. Medical stabilization first
    2. Radiological survey (if possible)
    3. Physical examinations and blood tests (CBC with differential) promptly. If internal contamination is suspected take nasal swabs
  • If the patient could not be checked for contamination, have him/her take a shower and change clothing as soon as possible (if will not adversely affect patient's medical status)
  • If the patient is contaminated — perform full decontamination
  • Survey and transfer the uncontaminated patient to the clean area
  • Control the spread of contamination: Before exiting/removing from contaminated area:
    1. Survey staff, remove contaminated clothing and shower
    2. Survey equipment
  • Conduct clean up under direction of radiological assessor
  • Don't release areas and ambulance for normal use until approved by radiological assessor
  • Assess needs and request additional resources
  • Follow the local hospital detailed action guide