How should a casualty be decontaminated after suspected CBRN exposure?

• A. Wash exposed skin only
• B. Remove contaminated clothing, wash exposed skin, rinse eyes, follow decontamination protocols
• C. Remove contaminated clothing and rinse eyes only
• D. Evacuate immediately

Answer: (B)

The main idea is to remove the contamination load and then physically remove and rinse away what remains, following a standard decontamination procedure so you don’t miss any exposure route. Start by removing any contaminated clothing, which cuts off the primary source of ongoing exposure and prevents contaminant transfer to skin and other surfaces. Next, wash the exposed skin thoroughly to remove residual contaminants that clothing removal didn’t eliminate. If there’s any splash or potential exposure to the eyes, rinse the eyes to prevent eye injury from chemicals or particulates. Finally, adhere to the established decontamination protocol to ensure all steps are performed correctly, with proper protection, waste handling, and sequencing.

Washing the skin alone misses the critical step of removing the clothing that taints the wearer and can spread contamination, and rinsing eyes alone neglects the body and environmental exposure that continue after contact with skin. Evacuation without decontamination fails to prevent spread and ongoing harm, and while safety during transport is important, it must be preceded by proper decontamination.