Sailors from Naval Hospital Camp Pendleton's (NHCP) Decontamination Incident Response Team participated in semi-annual first receiver operations training, June 17-18.

The first day consisted of eight hours of classroom time, where they learned about military-grade agents, hazardous materials, personal protective equipment, decontamination equipment functions and how to process patients through a decontamination station.

The second day was a real-world scenario exercise to test the team's knowledge and capability to react sufficiently in case of chemical, biological or radiological exposure (CBNRE).

"The job of the decon team is two-fold," said Charlie Jansen, CBRNE instructor conducting the training. "First is to take care of the patients, to get any contamination off of them and to possibly save their lives and second is to make sure that you don't let contamination in the hospital."

Decon team participants were timed in two areas, mission capable time where at least four personnel were to be dressed out in 10 minutes and full team dress out and set up time, which has to be completed in less than 20 minutes.

After the timed portion of the test the team received ambulatory and non-ambulatory "casualties" where they were medically assessed to determine the extent of their injuries.

The casualties were then routed through a high-pressured heated water shower system and washed down with sponges and a soap solution to ensure decontamination.

"If there was a CBR spill Marine Corps Base Fed Fire would perform primary decon at the incident site," said Lee Kiolbasa, NHCP emergency manager. "Our team would perform secondary decon to ensure complete decontamination before patients enter the hospital."

During this drill the team completed both sections before the allotted time, accomplishing full team dress out and set up in 13 minutes and 34 seconds.

"I think they did a really great job today," said Jansen. "They definitely beat the standard. This is a great team."

NHCP's 60-member team was established in 2001. The team holds monthly training in preparation for semi-annual recertification.

For more inforation, visit the command website at http://www.med.navy.mil/sites/cpen/