Dry decontamination

Decontamination is an essential duty of hazmat responders as it protects victims from harmful reactions to the contaminants.

After absorption is completed using an absorbent material and immediate danger has passed, the contaminated surface should be blotted with a wet paper towel.

[6] The DEC'POL® Emergency Decontamination Mitt is a polyvalent device that incorporates superabsorbent material with active agents for the destruction of chemical and biological contamination.

The mitt was developed and is produced in Lyon, France, by clothes and fabric manufacturer Ouvry SAS.

[8] FiberTect is a multi-layer nonwoven composite fabric that absorbs and adsorbs chemical, biological, and radiological contaminants.

[5] The three layers are needle-punched to form a single fabric that allows the material to be structurally sound while creating void spaces for better absorption and adsorption.

As with vacuuming, the use of pressurized air should be limited to situations where all people in the contaminated area are wearing personal protective equipment (PPE).

The use of pressurized air is often not recommended because there are many hazards associated with the method, including respiratory and skin damage.