What condition must victims be in before Technical Decontamination can start?

Technical decontamination is a critical procedure that ensures individuals contaminated with hazardous materials are safely cleaned before receiving further medical treatment. Before commencing this process, it is imperative that victims are medically stabilized. This means that any immediate life-threatening medical issues caused by exposure to hazardous substances have been addressed, allowing the individuals to endure the decontamination process without further risk to their health.

If victims are not medically stabilized, their condition could deteriorate during decontamination, complicating treatment and potentially leading to life-threatening situations. Therefore, ensuring that they are stable allows emergency responders to effectively and safely perform technical decontamination to remove any harmful contaminants without exacerbating the victims’ medical conditions.