[Federal Register Volume 79, Number 244 (Friday, December 19, 2014)]
[Notices]
[Pages 75826-75827]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2014-29779]


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DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY


Notice of Availability for the Patient Decontamination in a Mass 
Chemical Exposure Incident: National Planning Guidance for Communities

AGENCY: Office of Health Affairs, DHS.

ACTION: Notice of availability.

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SUMMARY: The Chemical Defense Program (CDP), under the Department of 
Homeland Security Office of Health Affairs (OHA), and the Office of the 
Assistant Secretary for Preparedness and Response (ASPR), under the 
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), have published the 
document titled ``Patient Decontamination in a Mass Chemical Exposure 
Incident: National Planning Guidance for Communities.'' The document is 
available on the following website: http://www.phe.gov/Preparedness/responders/Pages/patientdecon.aspx

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This guidance document is developed for 
senior leaders, planners, incident commanders, emergency managers, and 
trainers of local response organizations and health care facilities; it 
contains strategic-level, evidence-based best practices for use when 
planning and

[[Page 75827]]

conducting patient decontamination in a mass chemical casualty 
incident. The subject matter is focused on external decontamination of 
living people

[[Page 75827]]

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 principles 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.
    This document was released for public comment on April 2, 2014 
under Docket Number DHS-2014-0012. Approximately 200 comments were 
received during the 45-day comment period. The comments were then 
adjudicated by a working group comprising the primary authors from DHS/
OHA and HHS/ASPR.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Dr. Mark Kirk at [email protected] or
Dr. Susan Cibulsky at [email protected].

    Dated: December 12, 2014.
Mark A. Kirk,
Director, Chemical Defense Program.
[FR Doc. 2014-29779 Filed 12-18-14; 8:45 am]
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