The 177th Fighter Wing Medical Group demonstrated the new In Place Patient Decontamination Capability (IPPDC) facility to members of the University of Medicine and Dentistry New Jersey Center for Biodefense and local emergency medical service units Nov. 18.

      The mobile decontamination facility – a specially designed tent, is the first of its kind at a New Jersey Air National Guard base.  It is designed to decontaminate both ambulatory and non-ambulatory victims exposed to biological or chemical agents before they enter a medical facility.  Decontamination team members wear protective suits during the process.

      "The demonstration's purpose was to introduce the new decontamination system to local emergency responders,” stated Master Sgt. Samuel Suarez, Medical Services Technician and IPPDC Team Chief.  "It also sets the foundation for future community response planning."

Medical Group personnel participated in a 12-hour long "train the trainer" course on Nov. 17.   Personnel were briefed on the IPPDC concept, how to use the equipment, understanding hazardous substances and processing contaminated victims.

      The process is simple: before entering the facility, victims are asked to place their clothes and personal effects into a plastic bag that is tagged with a serial number.  A tag with the serial number is then tied to the patient's wrist to account for the victim's belongings.   The patient then enters the tent, which contains a shower area, to clean and rinse off.

      Victims who are unable to clean themselves are placed on a stretcher.  The decontamination team removes the victim's clothes and places the patient and stretcher on a 16-foot long track.  As the victim is rolled down the track, the team thoroughly washes the patient to ensure he or she is decontaminated.  After the victims are cleaned, they are then transported to a medical facility for evaluation and treatment.