2024 Decontamination Training Program

We recently completed our Spring 2024 decontamination training program, which targeted six hospitals in areas anticipated to receive patients from the Democratic National Convention. These hospitals were RUSH University Medical Center, UChicago Medicine, Mount Sinai Hospital, St. Anthony Hospital, Insight Hospital and Medical Center, and John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County. Led by Dave Matthews from Emergency Management Alliance, our training sessions combined classroom lectures with hands-on practice.

During the classroom sessions, we delved into the decontamination process, while the practical sessions focused on essential skills such as setting up PAPRs, donning/doffing PPE, and identifying contaminants. Each day concluded with a full-scale drill, where volunteers simulated patients requiring decontamination, allowing us to execute the entire procedure from start to finish.

The active participation and dedication shown by the hospitals involved highlight the success of these training sessions. Hospitals took full advantage of the opportunity to bolster their preparedness and response capabilities, thereby elevating their readiness levels in the event of a contamination incident.

Photos (clockwise): Saint Anthony Hospital, Mount Sinai Hospital, John H. Stroger, Jr. Hospital of Cook County, Rush University Medical Center.