Decontamination

With severed limbs, chemicals, viruses, bacteria, human waste, animal waste, radiation and who knows what else, decontamination will be not only an important step during many disaster scenarios like earthquakes, floods and Zombie outbreaks, it can be critical for continued survival.

The first and most important step is to avoid coming into contact with potential contaminates whenever possible. That means the utilization of face masks, gloves, long-sleeves, pants, eye protection, and even hazmat suits when necessary. If you absolutely can’t avoid coming into contact with dangerous materials and potential contaminates or you just want to be extra careful, it might be time to reach for some bleach… or at least give yourself a proper scrub.

For more information and instructions on how to decontaminate see: Decontamination With Bleach

Decontaminating with Bleach

With body parts, chemicals, viruses, bacteria, waste, and who knows what else, decontamination will be not only an important step during many disaster scenarios, it can be critical for continued survival.

The first and most important step is to avoid coming into contact with contaminates whenever possible. That means, face masks, gloves, long-sleeves, pants, eye protection, and even hazmat suits when necessary. If you can’t avoid contamination or you just want to be extra careful, it might be time to reach for some bleach.

Decontaminating with Bleach: Household bleach is one of the only substances that can effectively remove contaminates of both biological and chemical origin. A solution of 1:10 (1 part beach / 10 parts water) should be used to avoid burns and irritation to the skin.

1. Remove visible signs of contamination by physical action such as blotting, brushing, or scraping.

2. Remove clothing from persons by pulling it AWAY from the body. Never remove clothing over the head; cut it away from the body instead.

3 (When dealing with bodily contamination). Wash the face and hands with warm soapy water when available. Skip to step 4 if soap and water are not available or no bodily contamination has occurred.

4. Washing from the top down, apply a diluted bleach (1:10 ratio) to any potentially contaminated objects, clothing, and body parts or bodies. If applying directly to a body avoid contact with the eyes, nose, and mouth.

5. Rub, but do not scrub. Coarse brushes and cloths are NOT recommend for decontamination purposes as you risk opening the skin or surface of the object and increase the risk of further contamination or damages.

6. Fully dry and redress in CLEAN clothing that has been protected from contaminates.

7. Hope for the best and pay attention to your condition. A positive attitude can go a long way in a survival or emergency situation, but don’t forget to check in on your bodily health as well. It is possible that some contaminates did not get removed in time or were not fully removed.

In Conclusion: If done properly, decontaminating with bleach can be a literal life-saver for those dealing with both biological and chemical agents, regardless of the source or sources. Having a gallon of unscented household bleach on hand can mean the difference between long or short term survival… especially during a Zombie outbreak or attack.

WARNING: Bleach is a caustic substance and should only be used with caution and extreme care. NEVER use bleach at full strength to clean a person, persons, or animal. NEVER mix bleach with ammonia, the resulting vapors can kill you. ALWAYS read the warning labels of any potentially dangerous substances such as bleach before use.