The goal of an emergency decontamination procedure is to:

• A. Eliminate cross contamination of hospital personnel.
• B. Quickly remove any threatening contamination.
• C. Completely remove all contamination while protecting the environment from runoff.
• D. Remove any residual contamination after gross decontamination is completed.

Answer: (B)

Emergency decontamination is about reducing the immediate hazard as quickly as possible. The main goal is to remove the contaminant from the person fast so they are no longer a threat to themselves, responders, or others. Thorough cleanup and environmental protection are important, but they come after the urgent removal of the contaminant. This is why the best choice is to quickly remove any threatening contamination. Residual contamination and complete decontamination are addressed in later, more thorough steps, not in the initial emergency decon.