There are four sections in this course:

• Section 1: Toxicology and Health Safety Basics
• Section 2: Reference Materials
• Section 3: Personal Protective Equipment for First Recivers
• Section 4: Decontamination of Exposed Patients

There are review questions at the end of each section. These review questions will provide you with an opportunity to apply the knowledge and skills presented in these sections. There is a post-test at the end of the course. 

A Certificate of Completion is awarded on successful completion of this course. 

Intended Audience

health care workers in a hospital environment who may need to respond to an incident involving a contaminated patient on the operations level

Learning Objectives:

Upon completion of this part, you will be able to:

• Describe toxicity and relative toxicity
• Define common terms (i.e IDLH, TLV-C) used to measure toxicity and exposure limits
• List the four major routes of entry of toxic chemicals and describe factors that affect absorption for each
• Describe measures to avoid secondary contamination
• Use reference materials to obtain information about a toxic chemical in order to treat patients and maintain safety of self and others
• List the steps for donning and doffing PPE
• List the steps for assembling and disassembling a decontamination shower
• Utilize manufacturer instructions for the proper care and maintenance of PPE
• Recognize circumstances under which you can or cannot rely on your PPE for protection
• List the steps for decontaminating ambulatory and non-ambulatory patients

Pre-requisites/Learning Level

HAZMAT Awareness for Healthcare Providers

Competencies addressed

Core Competencies for Public Health Professionals

Domain 1: Analytical/Assessment Skills

• 1.1 Solve problems under emergency conditions
  • 1.1.1 Recognize emergency conditions and the resulting problems
  • 1.1.2 Evaluate the level of hazard or risk
  • 1.1.3 Prioritize problems based on level of hazard and degree of risk
  • 1.1.7 Prioritize problems based on severity, urgency, and solubility
  • 1.1.8 Assess information, resources and procedures necessary to address the problems in emergency situations
  • 1.1.9 Implement action to solve the problem(s) in a timely fashion

• 1.2 Manage behaviors associated with emotional responses in self and others
  • 1.2.2 Applies techniques for maintaining awareness of possible signs of personal stress, burn-out, and vicarious trauma
  • 1.2.7 Use self care principles and practices to mitigate potential adverse effects
  • 1.2.8 Demonstrate the ability to develop a helping relationship in support of the emotional health of others
  • 1.2.12 Assess individuals requiring immediate care from those who need no care or delayed care

• 1.3 Facilitate collaboration with internal and external emergency response partners
  • 1.3.3 Develop collaborative emergency response plans and/or policies with appropriate internal and external emergency response partners
  • 1.3.4 Apply communication strategies to effectively communicate with internal and external response partners

• 1.4 Maintain situational awareness
  • 1.4.3 Use information and resources to identify changes in the situation and/or response
  • 1.4.4 Detect cues that the situation may be rapidly changing
  • 1.4.9 Develop a method for regulating responses actions as crisis events evolve
  • 1.4.17 Distinguish between existing and future needs in response environments

• 1.6 Act within the scope of one’s legal authority
  • 1.6.2 Apply appropriate public health authority to minimize adverse outcomes (e.g., person, property, etc.)
  • 1.6.3 Access the emergency preparedness and response policies and procedures of one’s own organization
  • 1.6.5 Document appropriate information relative to the application of the law

Domain 2: Policy Development/Program Planning Skills

• 2.3 Report Information potentially relevant to the identification and control of an emergency through the chain of command
  • 2.3.2 communicate within the organization’s defined command structure (i.e. report up, communicate down)
  • 2.3.5 Communicate relevant information with to personnel in a timely fashion

• 2.5 Manage the recording and/or transcription of data according to protocol
  • 2.5.1 Adhere to relevant ethics guidelines, state and federal laws regarding data collection, management and dissemination

Domain 3: Communication Skills

• 3.3 Participate in improving the organization’s capacities (including, but no limited to programs, plans, policies, laws and workforce training)
  • 3.3.3 Adapt skill sets to meet the needs during an emergency response situation
  • 3.3.4 Apply knowledge and skills gained through participation in emergency preparedness and response activities to improve organization’s capacities

Domain 4: Cultural Competency Skills

• 4.2 Employ protective behaviors according to changing conditions, personal limitations, and threats
  • 4.2.1 Discuss the need to protect worker health and safety in emergencies and disasters
  • 4.2.12 Employ practices to minimize exposures to agents and hazards during an emergency
  • 4.2.14 Demonstrate personal hygiene practices that minimize exposure to chemical, biological, or radiological agents that may be present during emergencies and disasters
  • 4.2.16 Demonstrate correct donning of chemical protective clothing, respiratory protection, protective eyewear, protective footwear, hearing protection, gloves, and any other assigned PPE
  • 4.2.17 Apply the proper methods to maintain, store, decontaminate and dispose of different types of PPE

• 4.3 Report unresolved threats to physical and mental health through the chain of command
  • 4.3.1 Discuss the types of physical hazards and resulting injuries one might encounter while performing their role during emergency planning and response
  • 4.3.5 Report unresolved physical and/or mental health threats through the chain of command

CEUs Offered

None

Cost

Free

Modality/format

Online Self-Pace

Length

1 hour

Presenter(s) and/or Content Experts

Technical requirements:

• Adobe Acrobat Reader 
• Headphones or Speakers

Registration requirements

Register a free account

Content creation and/or update

May 19, 2015