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DECONTAMINATION


DeconGel eff ectively decontaminates a broad range of horizontal and vertical substrates, including concrete.


W


hen soldiers are sent into active warzones these days, each and every one of them has some kind of CBRN response training. Should a large-scale known or unknown CBRN attack happen, the soldiers would be


ready to carry out decontamination (removal or neutralization of contamination of hazardous materials) of themselves and then continue on to decontaminate any exposed equipment and infrastructure to continue military operations. The decontamination of the soldiers and warzone equipment is the main priority of the military in order to minimise casualties and restore the combat unit to capacity. However, when an attack involves civilians, they also


become a priority. Civilians may come directly into contact with contamination – in CBRN large-scale attacks such as a multiple radiological dispersal device (RDD) incident; smaller-scale CBRN incidents such as the US anthrax mailings; or accidents such as an explosion in a methamphet- amine laboratory or a nuclear reactor disaster. Regardless of the situation, once the capacity of soldiers to sustain response and defence has been maintained, civilians become the next priority. The decontamination of civilians in warzone incidents requires the use of advanced planning and, in many cases, advanced decontamination technologies.


Civilian challenges Two of the main issues with decontaminating civilians are: (1) lack of training of civilians and widespread availability of technologically advanced decontamination equipment, and


(2) the sheer quantity of people that could potentially require decontamination and the waste produced by that large- scale decontamination.


Unlike soldiers, civilians will react unpredictably in a potentially contaminated area. The level of panic and fear depends on available information. CBRN contaminants come in many forms and are not always easy to detect – so there is no one way to prepare. In many cases, the contaminated people must simply be corralled and led to a decontamination area. However, there are several steps that can be taken that will allow for the best possible outcome from decontaminating civilians in warzones.


UNWASHEDMASSES THE


Jennie Williams and Amit Kapoor on mass decontamination of civilians in war zones


64 CBNW 2013/01


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