Prior to entering a Total Protection (TP) zone, the crew member must first go through __ for decontamination.

Prior to entering a Total Protection (TP) zone, the crew member must first go through __ for decontamination.

• A. GDA (Gross-Decon. Area)
• B. LDA (Light Decon Area)
• C. MOPP-4 Decon
• D. Final Decon

Answer: (A)

The first decontamination step is gross decon. This rapid cleaning removes the bulk of surface contamination from skin, clothing, and gear before you enter a Total Protection zone. By lowering the contaminant load outside the hot zone, you protect the integrity of your protective gear and make the remaining decon steps inside the zone more effective and safer. After this initial step, you’d typically proceed through lighter decon and then final decon as you move through and after exiting the zone. The other decon stages are intended for subsequent steps in the flow, not the initial entry.

The first decontamination step is gross decon. This rapid cleaning removes the bulk of surface contamination from skin, clothing, and gear before you enter a Total Protection zone. By lowering the contaminant load outside the hot zone, you protect the integrity of your protective gear and make the remaining decon steps inside the zone more effective and safer. After this initial step, you’d typically proceed through lighter decon and then final decon as you move through and after exiting the zone. The other decon stages are intended for subsequent steps in the flow, not the initial entry.