Mobile mass decontamination unit

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile mass decontamination unit for use in nuclear, radiological, biological or chemical (NRBC) accidents for evacuating categorizing and decontaminating victims. According to the invention, the mobile unit comprises a first area (A) in which the victims are undressed, an intermediate wet decontamination area (B) by overhead or handheld shower, and a final area (C) for drying, checking and dressing; said areas being connected by at least one corridor for the able-bodied and one for patients, which unit is characterized in that:—it consists of a transportable mobile container comprising a roof panel, a floor panel, and two gable panels ( 1 c ), which fixed panels define the intermediate wet decontamination area (A),—said container comprising two folding side panels ( 1 e ) which define in the open position in the one case the first or undressing area (A) and in the other case the final or drying, checking and dressing area (C),—with panels ( 1 f ) mounted moveably in said container between a folded position in which they are housed inside said container and an open position in which they connect with the folding side panels ( 1 e ) to enclose the first or undressing area (A) and the final or drying, checking and dressing area (C),—partitions being arranged lengthwise within the internal space defined by said unit when it is in the open position to define the corridors.

1 . A mobile mass decontamination unit comprising a first zone for undressing victims, an intermediate zone for wet decontamination by overhead or handheld shower, a final zone for drying, monitoring, and dressing, said zones being traversed by a corridor for the able-bodied and a corridor for the disabled, characterized by the fact that:
 said unit is constituted by a transportable mobile container comprising a portable roof panel, a floor panel, two gable panels, these so called fixed panels defining the intermediate zone for wet decontamination,   said container comprising two deployable lateral panels defining, in deployed position, respectively the first zone for undressing an the final zone for drying, monitoring, and dressing,   panels being moveably mounted in said container between a folded position where they are housed in said container and a deployed position where they fit together with the deployable lateral panels to isolate the first zone for undressing and the final zone for drying, monitoring, and dressing,   partitions being arranged longitudinally in the interior space defined by said unit when in the deployed position, in order to define the corridors.   
     
     
         2 . A mobile unit according to  claim 1  wherein:
 roof and floor panels are pivotably mounted about horizontal axes fitted on the mobile container, between a folded position where they are housed in said container and a deployed position where they fit together with the deployable lateral panels to from, respectively, the roof and floor of the first zone for undressing and the final zone for drying, monitoring, and dressing,   gable panels are pivotably mounted about vertical axes fitted on the container movable between a folded position where they are housed in said container and a deployed position where they fit together with the deployable lateral panels to form the gable walls of the first zone for undressing and the final zone for drying, monitoring, and dressing.   
     
     
         3 . A mobile unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the various panels constituting said unit are smooth panels decontaminable at will due to their structure adapted to a NRBC treatment. 
     
     
         4 . A mobile unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate zone for wet decontamination is fitted with a device for recycling of contaminated effluents. 
     
     
         5 . A mobile unit according to  claim 4 , wherein the device for recycling comprises a pumping element adapted to evacuate the contaminated effluents from the intermediate zone for wet decontamination and reinject them to a supply reservoir, said pumping element being fitted with a filtration module and/or a module for thermal and/or chemical treatment of the effluents. 
     
     
         6 . A mobile unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the interior volume of the different zones is maintained in overpressure relative to the exterior. 
     
     
         7 . A mobile unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the different zones are maintained at different levels of pressure so that the air flows from the final zone, for drying, monitoring, and dressing to the first zone for undressing. 
     
     
         8 . A mobile unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the first zone for undressing is fitted with a pressure device designed to maintain a positive pressure gradient between said first zone and the exterior (P undressing zone −P exterior >0). 
     
     
         9 . A mobile unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the intermediate zone for wet decontamination is fitted with a pressure device designed to maintain a positive pressure gradient between the first zone for undressing and said intermediate zone (P wet decontamination zone −P undressing zone >0). 
     
     
         10 . A mobile unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the final zone for drying, monitoring, and dressing is fitted with a pressure device to maintain a positive pressure gradient between the intermediate zone for wet decontamination and the final zone (P final zone −P wet decontamination zone >0). 
     
     
         11 . A mobile unit according to  claim 1 , wherein a service module equipped with an electric generator, pressure device and a device for recycling contaminated effluents is fitted to the mobile container. 
     
     
         12 . A mobile unit according to  claim 1 , wherein an independent autoclave module is fitted to the structure of said unit, said module comprising a device adapted to make the enclosure of said module communicate with the enclosure of said unit.