Mass Decontamination

Mass decontamination of the public may raise some unsavory images but it is only right and hopefully reassuring, that plans are in place to protect the public form this particular type of risk.

The equipment can also be utilised to prevent hospitals from becoming contaminated and therefore being put out of commission.

We have fully embedded the New Dimension mass decontamination capability within HFRS by training virtually all our operational staff in its application.

The mass decontamination capability is directed by the Civil Protection Manager and managed on a daily basis by the two Station Managers at Redbridge and Hightown where the Incident Response Unit (IRU) is operated. Each watch at these stations has a mass decontamination instructor and a fork lift instructor to carry out training and assessments.

Interim and full mass decontamination has been and continues to be exercised extensively both in and out of the county.

All other agencies have been familiarised with the capability and we actively support other agencies by taking a leading role in exercises to develop their plans.

Due to the expertise developed by Hampshire we are often used to help with other national developmental work and demonstrations.

Training

Personnel from several fire stations are specially trained to erect and operate these systems while support stations have received training as ‘warm zone operatives’ to assist the public through the system.

All officers have been familiarised with the system and our Hazardous Material Officers have been trained for the specific functional roles needed to direct the whole operation.

Hamble, Romsey and Totton Fire Stations have received additional training to act as mass decontamination support crews and in particular to wear the powered respirator protective suit (PRPS) which has been developed jointly with the Ambulance Service to overcome the problems of working in this environment in existing PPE and which will greatly increase the efficiency of the systems.

Photos: Training exercise

Decontamination Training 1 Decontamination Training 2

Disrobe modules

Hampshire has an Incident Response Unit (IRU) carrying two complete decontamination systems and three Mass Decontamination Disrobe (MDD) modules.

The disrobe modules each carry twelve hundred disrobe kits which can be distributed to contaminated casualties and an MD4 decontamination structure which can be provided to the scene for use by the either the Fire Service or the Police.

Removing contaminated clothing is the single most effective way of reducing possible consequences and allows time for the decontamination showers to be erected.

Both the IRU and the MDD modules carry these kits which allow people to remove contaminated clothing in a safe and dignified way thus removing up to 85% of any potential contaminant.

Whilst members of the public are disrobing using the packs fire crews will be erecting highly effective mobile public decontamination facilities (warm water showers) at or near the site of the incident. Each system is capable of decontaminating up to 150 people every hour through a wash/rinse cycle lasting three minutes and twenty seconds.

Disrobe Photo 1 Disrobe Photo 2

Smaller casualty numbers

Hampshire has also pioneered a nationally adopted procedure for the immediate decontamination of smaller numbers of casualties.

The system was conceived and developed by Red Watch at Redbridge Fire Station and cleverly utilises equipment found on every fire engine to provide an improvised warm water shower system in just a few minutes.

This system is now in use by every fire service in the South East region and ensures people can receive emergency decontamination whilst allowing time for the specialist system to be set up.

Accommodation

The Mass Decontamination Incident Response Unit is currently housed at Hightown Fire Station.

Two of the three Mass Decontamination Disrobe (MDD) units are housed at SHQ in Eastleigh whilst the third is at Redbridge Fire Station

The Detection, Identification and Monitoring vehicle is garaged in the new Specialist Response building at the rear of the SHQ site in Eastleigh along with other Incident Support vehicles.