e. Although a PDS may be collocated with thorough decontamination, a PDS must be operational at Levels I, II, III, and IV MTFs. Contaminated patients may present directly to the MTF for care, or patients previously decontaminated may become contaminated en route. Therefore, all patients arriving at an MTF must be checked for contamination. If contaminated, they must be decontaminated before they are admitted to the MTF.
Figure G-2. Thorough decontamination site collocated with patient decontamination station, without collective protection shelter.
G-4. Patient Decontamination at the Battalion Aid Station (Level I)
a. When battle conditions prevent patient decontamination procedures forward or the patient is contaminated en route, the patient may have to be decontaminated at the BAS. Contaminated patients arriving at the BAS must be decontaminated before admission into the clean treatment area.
b. Patient decontamination is performed by eight nonmedical personnel from the supported unit at the BAS. The patient decontamination personnel operate as two-man teams to perform the patient decontamination procedures. The patient decontamination teams operate under the supervision of medical personnel to ensure that no further injury is caused to the patient by the decontamination process. Each team receives a patient from the triage point and performs both clothing removal and skin decontamination procedures. The team requires assistance from another team to perform litter changes; see details below.
G-5. Patient Decontamination at the Medical Company Clearing Station (Level II)
The medical company clearing station may receive patients from the BAS or directly from other areas who have not been decontaminated. The clearing station must also have a patient decontamination area. As with the BAS, the clearing station must have a minimum of eight nonmedical personnel from the supported units to perform patient decontamination. Procedures for patient decontamination at the clearing station are the same as for the BAS.