Which action directly contributes to reducing skin contamination by about 80%?

• A. Removing clothing reduces 80% of contaminant
• B. Wiping skin with a dry cloth only
• C. Wearing gloves during decon covers all skin
• D. Observing but not touching the person

Answer: (A)

Removing contaminated clothing is the most impactful action because a large share of the contaminants is carried on outer garments. Taking off these clothes pulls the source of contamination away from the skin, dramatically reducing the amount that can transfer during subsequent handling. This single step can cut skin contamination by about 80%, making it the most effective early decontamination action.

Wiping the skin with a dry cloth isn’t effective on its own and can smear contaminants around. Wearing gloves protects the hands but doesn’t address exposure on the rest of the skin. Simply observing without touching doesn’t remove contamination at all. The best approach is to remove contaminated clothing and then thoroughly wash exposed skin to remove any remaining residues.