Hazmat transport — DipIMC MCQ

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EasyMajor IncidentsHazmat transportDipIMC

A patient exposed to unknown powder is coughing but stable. No decontamination has occurred and the receiving hospital is unaware. What is the most appropriate transport decision?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: C — Decontaminate and pre-alert before transport

Explanation lettering: B = shown as A · E = shown as B · A = shown as D · D = shown as E

C is correct: Contaminated patients can endanger ambulance and hospital staff; decontamination and pre-alert are essential. A is less suitable because it does not address the discriminator in the vignette; B is less suitable because it moves the patient before the decisive threat or destination issue is addressed; D is less suitable because it does not address the discriminator in the vignette; E is less suitable because the vignette contains high-risk features that require escalation. The most tempting alternative is therefore suboptimal because it either delays the time-critical pre-hospital intervention or sends the patient to the wrong level of care. The key DipIMC principle is focused cABCDE decision-making with early pre-alert, triage or retrieval escalation when the scene physiology demands it.

Reference: MIMMS; JESIP Joint Doctrine; JRCALC Major Incidents