LEARNINGOBJECTIVE: Recall rescue, patient care, and decontamination procedures for patients exposed to hazardous material.

After a safety zone has been established-and regardless of your level of training-you should follow the procedures outlined below:

Help isolate the incident site and keep the area clear of unauthorized and unprotected personnel.
Establish and maintain communications with your dispatcher.

Stay upwind and upgrade from the site, and monitor wind and weather changes.
Don't breathe any smoke, vapors, or fumes.

Figure 5-8.-Hazard zone management sections

Don't touch, walk, or drive through the spilled materials, since these will increase the area of the spill.
Don't eat, drink, or smoke at the site; don't touch your face, nose, mouth, or eyes. (These are all direct routes of entry into your body.)
Eliminate any possible source of ignition (e.g., flares, flames, sparks, smoking, flashes, flashlights, engines, portable radios).
Notify your dispatcher and give your location. Request the assistance of the HAZMAT response team.
If possible, identify the hazardous material and report it to the dispatcher.

Observe all safety precautions and directions given by the on-site HAZMAT expert. All orders should be given and received face to face.

Stay clear of restricted areas until the on-site HAZMAT expert declares them to be safe.