What is the recommended procedure for decontaminating clothing after OC exposure?

• A. Remove contaminated clothing and wash it separately or discard per policy; rinse skin contact areas and wash hands thoroughly.
• B. Wash clothing with other laundry and keep contaminated items.
• C. No decontamination of clothing is necessary.
• D. Only rinse skin; ignore clothing.

Answer: (A)

Decontamination after OC exposure hinges on preventing ongoing transfer from contaminated clothing while promptly removing residual irritant from skin. The best approach is to take off the contaminated clothing as soon as it’s safe, keep it separate from clean items, and either launder it by itself or discard it according to policy. At the same time, rinse exposed skin areas thoroughly to remove any residue and wash hands well to prevent transfer to the face or other surfaces. Doing both steps together minimizes the risk of recontamination and reduces ongoing irritation. Washing contaminated clothing with other laundry or ignoring the clothing can spread the irritant and prolong exposure, while rinsing only the skin leaves the source of contamination in place.