What is the goal of mass decontamination?

The goal of mass decontamination is to handle large numbers of people effectively. This process is essential during emergencies or disasters where a significant number of individuals may be exposed to hazardous materials. The approach aims to quickly reduce the contamination levels on individuals to ensure their safety and to prevent further spread of contaminants.

Mass decontamination recognizes that time is often critical in emergency situations, so it focuses on swift, efficient methods to manage the decontamination process for many people at once rather than sanitizing items or preparing for a more technical decontamination process later. While individual cleaning and clearing contaminants can be important, the primary focus in mass decontamination is the expedited and organized approach to protecting public health in large-scale incidents.