To control crowds at mass decontamination, you should:

• A. organize victims in groups of 10–20 people.
• B. instruct all victims to line up in a single line.
• C. quickly direct victims out of the hazard zone.
• D. ask victims to complete their medical documentation.

Answer: (C)

Directing victims out of the hazard zone quickly is the priority in mass decontamination. The goal is to start removing contaminants as soon as possible to limit each person’s exposure and prevent spread to others. A fast, straightforward movement gets people to the decontamination area where washing and decontamination can begin without delaying the overall process. Grouping people into specific sizes, lining up in a single line, or adding medical paperwork would slow things down, create bottlenecks, and increase exposure risk. The focus should be on rapid egress from the contaminated zone and then conducting decon efficiently at the next stage.