Incorporation of Fixative in the Decontamination of Litter-bound Patients Exposed to Bacillus Anthracis via Biological Surrogate on Human Manikin to Reduce Airborne Exposure in an Arctic Environment

Ernest N. Morial New Orleans Convention Center 

This presentation evaluates a cold-weather–tolerant fixative as a mitigation strategy to reduce secondary aerosolization during casualty handling. Using a full-scale clothed manikin contaminated with 1 µm biological surrogate particles, airborne release during disrobing was quantified with IOM samplers under fixative-treated and control conditions. Results demonstrated statistically significant suppression of airborne particles with fixative application. The study highlights an operationally relevant exposure control strategy for emergency response and cold-environment medical operations where traditional decontamination methods may be limited.

Dr. Jeremy Slagley, Dr. Douglas Lewis, Dr. Julie Skipper 

This work was completed through the support of the U.S. Air Force Research Laboratory’s 711th Human Performance Wing Force Health Protection Branch under project # AFIT 2024-116R2. 

Aerosol and airborne particulate monitoring

Emergency preparedness and response

Radiation protection and monitoring

Risk assessment and management

Ventilation