Welcome to ZZ Cape Fear Valley Health System

Contamination

CFV must be prepared to receive contaminated patients anywhere in the Health System at any time.  Not always the victim of terror attacks as is most often thought, contaminated patients can result from fuel spills, hazard material exposure, or industrial accidents.

In theory, no patient should arrive at the Emergency Department without having been decontaminated by EMS, the Fire Department's HazMat Team or an industrial plant's emergency response team.  In some situations however, patients may self-present.

As soon as staff realize that a patient may be contaminated, the patient should be isolated in the decontamination room, Hot Zone located in the Emergency Department (ED).  Escorting and treating staff should don protective personal equipment (PPE) applicable to the situation.  Gathering information from patients may be the fastest method of determining the extent of the contamination and the expected number of casualties.

Mass Decontamination.  In the event of a mass contamination beyond the practical capability of the ED decon room, the ED Physician-in-Charge may call for the portable decontamination tent to be erected and placed in service.  Engineering and ED staff configure a decontamination area outside of the ED.  Decontamination is performed according to established procedures appropriate to the agent and level of exposure.

US Patent Numbers 7,720,998 B2, 7,836,207