At the BAS attempts will be made to treat walking casualties and return them to duty. Decontamination is time and labor intensive. Estimates of the time required to decontaminate a litter patient range from eight to 20 minutes. A medic supervises the litter decontamination area, but he can provide little or no medical care during this procedure. He cannot support ventilation nor can he assist a suddenly-apneic casualty.
Personnel performing litter decontamination wear butyl-rubber aprons over their protective garments.
The ambient temperature and humidity dictate their work-rest cycle, but even under temperate conditions the work period is short necessitating frequent change of personnel. Three people are needed for litter patient decontamination, although two might suffice if one is strong, as patient lifting is necessary. The litter decontamination area There are two stations in this area, the clothing removal station and the skin decontamination station. At this time, the nude patient is transferred to the skin decontamination litter using a three-person roll lift. He also thoroughly decontaminates splints, but does not remove them.