In a mass casualty incident involving contamination, what is the recommended overall strategy?

• A. Decontaminate large numbers of people
• B. Prioritize individual victims first
• C. Wait for specialized teams
• D. Use high-pressure steam cleaning for everyone

Answer: (A)

Rapid gross decontamination of large numbers of people is the recommended strategy in a mass casualty incident with contamination because it quickly reduces the contaminant load and prevents secondary exposure to others, including responders and medical facilities. In these scenarios, time is critical, and trying to treat individuals one by one before decon would leave many unprotected and can spread contamination as people move through the area. Setting up multiple decontamination stations and using low-flow water to remove clothing and rinse the body allows a crowd to be decontaminated efficiently while medical care can begin or continue in parallel. Waiting for specialized teams or using high-pressure steam is not practical or safe for mass decon—the former causes delays, and the latter can injure exposed skin and is ineffective for broad contamination. After gross decon, victims can be triaged for medical treatment, with additional decontamination performed as needed.