Provides a step-by-step decontamination demonstration in real time, and trains clinicians about the nuances of treating infants and children, who require special attention during decontamination.
For example, children may be frightened not only by the emergency situation itself, but also by the decontamination process as well.
Decontamination of children also takes longer than decontamination of adults.
Describes chemical decontamination of children; many aspects of radiation decontamination are similar.
Explains why it is very important for health care institutions to establish a pediatric-specific decontamination plan and train to implement it.
Some of the important differences between chemical decontamination (shown in the video) and radiation decontamination (not shown in the video) include:
Rigorous skin rubbing is used for chemical decontamination; rigorous rubbing is NOT appropriate for external radiation decontamination of skin because abrasions can allow radiation to be absorbed through skin.
The staff at Children's Hospital Boston and Michael and Shannon, M.D., M.P.H., formerly Chief of the Division of Emergency Medicine of Children's Hospital Boston, are featured in the video.
This video was originally produced in 2005 with funding from HHS/AHRQ.
