Undressing for Decontamination Procedure

I've read quite a bit about different policies that emergency teams use, but I'd be interested in hearing about your own experiences, or alternately your ideal procedure.

Did you get contaminated with something?

Yes, toxic waste (chemical or nuclear)

Yes, medical waste or disease-carrying material

Yes, by pesticides or other legal but dangerous substance not intended for human contact.

No, I was only suspected of contamination and had to go along with the procedure

What did the emergency team look like?

Wearing full body concealing suits with hoods and air filters

Dressed in identifying uniforms

Dressed in lab coats

Just regular clothes. Come to think of it, not sure they were really officials of any kind.

How far were you required to undress by the emergency response team?

Remove clothing directly touched by the hazardous material

Remove outer clothing, left in underwear

Remove all clothing (naked)

I was naked already, because I was contaminated while skinny dipping or something like that (a lot of the following questions won't apply, but good for you!)

Which of the following occurred?

I undressed immediately (either knowing what was to come, being eager to hurry along decontamination for worry of illness, or because the material was causing you pain)

I was asked to undress, and did so

I was asked to undress and hesitated, but eventually did

I was asked to undress and wasn't able to bring myself to, so I was forced to undress

I was immediately forced to undress without warning

My clothes were cut off of me

What became of your clothes?

They were checked for uncleanable contamination and found to be salvageable, and returned to me.

They were destroyed in the undressing process

The hazardous material ate through them

They were confiscated and not returned.

They were burned or otherwise destroyed

Was the decontamination performed...

In a tent?

In a partitioned area with one open side?

Out in the open where anyone could see?

In a facility I was driven to?

If it was out in the open, please describe the scene. How many people were around, how many other people were being decontaminated, age and sex of the people watching, etc.

What was done to your body as part of the decontamination process?

Surface samples taken with a swab

Skin sample scraped off

Hair sample taken

Eyes and/or mouth flushed with water

Body sprayed down with water or decontamination fluid

Body scrubbed down by hand with powder or thicker foam

Aside from that, how was your body examined?

Cursory visual examination

Thorough checking of all body areas, checking between toes, behind ears, etc.

Full probing of all cavities

Were you shaved or depiliated?

Nothing to shave! (Either by choice or due to the chemicals you were exposed to)

Yes, just the affected areas

Yes, the thicker areas of hair (armpits, groin)

Yes, entire body below the neck

Yes, entire body including head and eyebrows

If your clothing wasn't given back:

I was given replacement clothes to wear

I was given a robe

I was given a flimsy gown

It was too urgent, there were too many people, I was sent away naked

I chose to stay naked, if anyone asks I can just say I went through decontamination.

Which of the following best describes your opinion:

Medical and emergency personnel should feel unrestricted in doing whatever they feel is necessary without justification

They're too overzealous and don't often make sure there's adequate cause to initiate decontamination procedures and undress people.

They should wait for a person's approval and consent

They ought to leave well enough alone, you'll probably be fine.

And finally, how was the experience?

I was mortified

I was a little embarrassed but this is one of those things that happens

I don't get bothered by necessary procedures.

I rather enjoyed it. If I ever see something similar going on I'll pretend I was contaminated too.

Age:

Kid

Teen

Not as young as you used to be

Sex

Female

Yes please! I mean, male.

This poll was created on 2014-06-15 02:01:58 by awayness