[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 63 (Wednesday, April 2, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Page 18570]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-07392]


=======================================================================
-----------------------------------------------------------------------

DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY

[Docket No. DHS-2014-0012]


Public Review of Patient Decontamination in a Mass Chemical 
Exposure Incident: National Planning Guidance for Communities

AGENCY: Office of Health Affairs, Department of Homeland Security.

ACTION: Notice and request for comments.

-----------------------------------------------------------------------

SUMMARY: The Chemical Defense Program (CDP), under the Department of 
Homeland Security Office of Health Affairs (OHA), and Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), under the 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), are seeking public 
comment on a document titled ``Patient Decontamination in a Mass 
Chemical Exposure Incident: National Planning Guidance for 
Communities.''

DATES: Submit the completed comment matrix on or before May 19, 2014.

ADDRESSES: Comments may be submitted, identified by docket number DHS-
2014-0012, by one of the following methods:
     Federal e-Rulemaking Portal: 
http:[sol][sol]www.regulations.gov.
    Instructions: All submissions received must include the words 
``Department of Homeland Security and docket number for this 
rulemaking. All comments received will be posted without change to 
http:[sol][sol]www.regulations.gov, including any personal information 
provided.
    Docket: For access to the docket to read background documents or 
comments received, please visit http:[sol][sol]www.regulations.gov and 
type the docket number (DHS-2014-0012) into the ``SEARCH for: Rules, 
Comments, Adjudications or Supporting Documents:'' field in the middle 
of the Web site.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This guidance document is developed for 
senior leaders, planners, incident commanders, emergency management 
personnel and trainers of local response organizations and health care 
facilities; it contains strategic-level, evidence-based best practices 
for use when planning and conducting patient decontamination in a mass 
chemical casualty event. The subject matter is focused on external 
decontamination of living people exposed to toxic industrial chemicals 
(TICs), toxic industrial materials (TIMs) or chemical warfare agents 
(CWAs) resulting from either an intentional or accidental release. The 
guidance document provides an approach that is flexible and scalable 
according to the resource and capability limitations of the 
organization. The recommendations, therefore, are adaptable to each 
unique community as it sees fit. The principals set forth in this 
guidance document are strategic-level and designed to guide 
communities' planning efforts rather than specify operational 
practices. The guidance is evidence-based using currently available 
scientific research to the extent possible, and the supporting evidence 
is documented and briefly discussed.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: [email protected]

    Dated: March 21, 2014.
Mark A. Kirk,
Director, Chemical Defense Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-07392 Filed 4-1-14; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 9110-9K-P