Advanced Studies of Mass Casualty Decontamination: Trial 2
Research type
Research Study
Full title
Study of the effect of delay on decontamination effectiveness and outcomes, following the 'Ladder Pipe' decontamination procedure
IRAS ID
151929
Contact name
Richard Amlôt
Contact email
Sponsor organisation
Public Health England
Research summary
This study aims to test different parameters of the ‘Ladder Pipe’ system (LPS) of mass casualty decontamination following a hazardous chemical release incident.
The human volunteer trials will analyze the effectiveness of decontaminating casualties using the LPS, which is a widely implemented emergency protocol for chemical decontamination in the UK and United States. The purpose of the LPS is to position fire trucks in such a way that a high-volume, low-pressure shower can be sprayed from hoses in every direction, creating a corridor of water through which many casualties can walk. This particular system is advantageous due to the speed in which the corridor can be established.
In this trial, we are comparing showering and control interventions at three different time delays between 'contamination' and decontamination: 30 minutes, 60 minutes, and 120 minutes.
We are comparing the effects of these conditions on the removal and/or spread of two simulant 'contaminants' (Methyl Salicylate and fluorohpore) as the participants walk through the shower.
The study will also include analysis of physiological stress, using the biomarker salivary cortisol as an index of stress; analysis of simulants absorbed in urine samples; and analysis of the effects of the shower procedure on cognitive function and mood states (as measured via validated tests and questionnaires).
This study will serve both the scientific community and emergency response services by determining whether a time delay will limit the amount of contaminant which can be removed using the LPS. Additionally, we will identify whether showering with the LPS has any effects on cortisol levels, cognitive function, and mood states.
REC name
South Central - Hampshire B Research Ethics Committee
REC reference
14/SC/1070
Date of REC Opinion
22 Jul 2014
REC opinion
Further Information Favourable Opinion