Improvised Decontamination Shower Setup

When emergency response services are overwhelmed, delayed, or unavailable, self-establishing a decontamination washing area allows you to decontaminate multiple people systematically and prevents contamination from spreading into clean areas. This is particularly relevant for community responders, household members helping exposed individuals, and organised shelter operations.

Principles of an Improvised Decon Station

An effective decontamination station needs:

Requirement	Why
Running water or large water supply	Volume is critical — dilution removes contamination
Separation of contaminated and clean areas	Prevents cross-contamination
Drainage away from people	Contaminated runoff should not flow into the clean zone
Privacy covering	Encourages compliance; allows clothing removal
Clean clothing available on exit	Contaminated people should not re-dress in contaminated clothes
Person overseeing (with some protection)	Ensures correct procedure; assists those who need help

Setting Up Outdoors

An outdoor setup is preferable — contaminated runoff flows away naturally and there is no risk of contaminating an indoor space.

Location Selection

1. Choose level or slightly sloped ground so water flows away from the clean exit area.
2. Downwind — position the station so that any residual vapour blows away from the clean zone.
3. Away from water sources — do not place the station near streams, wells, or drainage that feeds drinking water.
4. Near a reliable water supply — garden hose, water storage tanks, large buckets of water.

Layout

Set up three zones in sequence:

Zone 1 — Contaminated (Dirty) Zone:

• Where the exposed person enters
• Clothing removal happens here
• Clothing bags stored here
• Do not allow anyone without protection to stand in this zone

Zone 2 — Washing Zone:

• Where the person washes
• Water flows from Zone 2 toward Zone 1 and away from Zone 3
• Soap available; large water supply
• A hose, bucket shower, or portable camp shower all work

Zone 3 — Clean Zone:

• Where clean towels and clothing are provided
• No contaminated material enters this zone
• Where the decontaminated person exits

Mark the zones clearly — rope, chalk, tape, or even verbal instruction to those waiting.

Privacy

Decontamination requires clothing removal. Privacy significantly improves compliance:

• Hang tarps, sheets, or large opaque plastic sheeting around the washing zone
• Set up in a naturally screened area
• Allow one sex to decontaminate at a time in high-throughput situations

Setting Up Indoors

Indoor setup is less desirable but necessary when outdoor space is unavailable (winter, rain, security concerns).

1. Use a bathroom or laundry room — these already have drainage and water.
2. Lay heavy plastic sheeting from the entrance to the shower — this prevents floor contamination in corridors.
3. Seal the air vent in the decon bathroom — prevents contamination from spreading to the rest of the building.
4. Establish a bag zone outside the bathroom door for clothing.
5. Clean bathroom surfaces thoroughly after use.

⚠️ For chemical vapour incidents, indoor decontamination may spread chemical vapours to clean areas. If the contaminating agent is a volatile vapour rather than a particle or liquid, outdoor decontamination is strongly preferred.

Water Requirements

Volume matters:

Person	Water Required
Full body wash per person	Minimum 10–15 litres
Eyes only	2+ litres per eye, minimum 10 minutes of flow
Effective throughput with 200L tank	10–15 people

Ensure your water supply is sufficient before starting. If supply is limited, prioritise in this order:

1. Eye decontamination
2. Face and exposed skin
3. Full body wash

The Washing Procedure at the Station

For each person:

1. Enter Zone 1; remove all outer clothing following safe removal technique; bag and seal.
2. Move to Zone 2 washing area.
3. Flush entire body with water from head down; apply soap; lather gently 2–3 minutes; rinse thoroughly.
4. Pay attention to hair — rinse hair separately, tilting head back to prevent runoff reaching the face.
5. Dry with clean towel (not reused between people).
6. Move to Zone 3; dress in clean clothing.

Protecting the Helper

The person overseeing decontamination should:

• Wear gloves and eye protection at minimum
• Wear a waterproof apron or rain jacket over their clothing
• Avoid standing in the water runoff path
• Decontaminate themselves after assisting others — remove gloves last (inside-out), wash hands thoroughly

---

Quick Reference

Zone	Function	Contents
Zone 1 (dirty)	Clothing removal	Clothing bags; initial triage
Zone 2 (washing)	Water wash	Hose/buckets; soap; privacy cover
Zone 3 (clean)	Dressing	Clean towels; clean clothing
Water	10–15 L per person minimum	Eyes first if supply limited
Privacy	Essential for compliance	Tarps, sheets, or natural screen
Helper protection	Gloves + eye protection + waterproof layer	Decontaminate self after
Outdoor vs indoor	Outdoor preferred	Indoor: seal vents; use plastic sheeting