Decontamination of personnel and objects
A method for efficiently decontaminating surfaces is provided comprising applying an indicator to a surface wherein the indicator provides an observable or machine readable response when a contamination is present on the surface, wherein the response is located relative to a location of the contamination; and decontaminating the location of the contamination, and optionally rechecking the location of the initial contamination post decontamination to ensure that the surface is free of contamination.
1. A method for removing chemical warfare agents (CWA) from potentially CWA contaminated surfaces, the method comprising:
applying a CWA indicator to a surface;
chemically reacting the CWA indicator with a CWA associated with one or more discrete portions of the surface to provide an observable or machine readable response in commensurate scope with the discrete portions of a CWA contamination; and
selectively decontaminating the discrete portions of the surface using decontaminant.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface is a surface of equipment.
3. The method of claim 2 , wherein the equipment is personal protective equipment.
4. The method of claim 2 , wherein the equipment is emergency response equipment.
5. The method of claim 2 , wherein the CWA indicator is applied to a section of the surface of the equipment.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CWA indicator is aqueous based.
7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the response is at least one of a colorimetric change, a temperature change, a thickening, a thinning, a fluorescence change, an absorption change, an infrared intensity or wavelength change, and/or an ultraviolet intensity or wavelength change.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the response is machine readable.
9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising sending the machine readable response to a computer.
10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising providing a computer analysis of the reading.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the computer analysis comprises determining a location of the response.
12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising transmitting said analysis to a decontaminating process unit.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the selectively decontaminating comprises using the decontaminating process unit to decontaminate the discrete portions, wherein the selectively decontaminating is an automatic process comprising applying a decontaminating solution to the discrete portions, scrubbing the discrete portions, and rinsing the discrete portions.
14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising using at least one robotic arm to apply the CWA indicator.
15. The method of claim 1 , wherein the surface is a surface of at least one of a floor, a wall, a ceiling, a vehicle, a glove, a protective suit, an article of clothing, skin, a window, a door, a shelf, a table, a counter, a computer, a tank, a helicopter, a plane, a motorcycle, a bicycle, glassware, glasses, a helmet, a paper, a weapon, vegetation, soil, carpet, and/or military equipment.
16. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CWA indicator is enzyme based.
17. The method of claim 1 , wherein the response is machine readable by one more of a Raman detector, a camera, a spectrometer, a thermal camera, a Joint Chemical Agent Detector (JCAD), an improved Chemical Agent Monitor (ICAM), an Avalon standoff Raman spectrometer, a hyperspectral imager, an identiFINDER instrument, and/or a night vision device.
18. The method of claim 1 , wherein the CWA indicator is a first CWA indicator, the method further comprising applying a second CWA indicator following the decontaminating to determine whether the decontaminating was successful.
19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the second CWA indicator is a different indicator from the first CWA indicator.
20. The method of claim 1 , further comprising ceasing the decontaminating when no readable response is present.