Sponsored by Decon7 Systems
By Corrections1 BrandFocus Staff
Corrections officers deal with plenty of nasty stuff in a day’s work, but too often the toxic effects created by exposure to contraband drugs or bodily fluids take a backseat to managing the incident and restoring order.
Gloves, soap and water simply aren’t enough. What can COs do to avoid exposure to dangerous narcotics like fentanyl or infectious diseases when they have to deal with a contaminated scene?
You need a solution that will neutralize germs and the toxic properties of drugs, not just remove them from your hands to a towel or sink where they remain a hazard.
Decon7 Systems provides the patented D7 formula, which can neutralize toxic or infectious hazards posed from threats like fentanyl and bloodborne pathogens like hepatitis within minutes. The decontamination solution is available in the ready-to-use BDAS+ unit as well as bulk liquid and laundry.
A READY-TO-USE DECONTAMINATION TOOL
Washing with soap and water can remove contaminants from a surface, such as your hands or the floor of a cell, but it doesn’t eliminate potential threats like bacteria or trace drug residue.
Unlike most decontamination products that must be mixed at the time of use, The BDAS+ provides the detergent, neutralization and accelerant in a single package and mixes them for one-step application. Simply pull the yellow safety tab from the nozzle, point it at the surface to be decontaminated, then pull the trigger.
“Officers have more important things to worry about than spending 10 or 20 minutes preparing and mixing a decontaminant that they need on the spot and not well after the fact,” said Joe Hill, vice president of defense and public safety for Decon7. “With the BDAS+, you can pull a ready-to-use unit and spray it. There’s no manual mixing.”
The handheld unit, which weighs less than 2 pounds, can be kept on hand and deployed within seconds when needed. In addition to enabling rapid response, the BDAS+ eliminates potential for human error because it automatically mixes the solution’s three components.
HOW DOES IT WORK?
Once the D7 solution is mixed and applied to a surface and in contact with the threat, the neutralization process begins. The formula disinfects, decomposes and partially digests pathogens like bacteria and viruses and breaks down contaminants like fentanyl and other drugs. Positively charged micelles, or clusters of molecules, draw germs and contaminants into the liquid, where the hazard is chemically altered to render the mess harmless in a matter of minutes.
D7 can reduce the number of germs present by at least 1 million times, and tactically relevant testing shows that the formula eliminates more than 99.9 percent of fentanyl in under seven minutes. The formula is not flammable, is minimally corrosive and is environmentally friendly.
“It’s about as corrosive as the shampoo you use on your hair,” said Hill. “The process ends with a final neutral pH.”
SAFE FOR FREQUENT USE
While chlorine and bleach solutions will neutralize many biological and chemical agents, the runoff of these solutions is still hazardous. Also, bleach itself is highly corrosive and can cause damage to many surfaces, particularly plastics. Alcohol and ammonia present similar inhalation hazards and potential damage to surfaces.
D7 can kill most pathogens – without harmful fumes like bleach – and neutralize dangerous narcotics like fentanyl by breaking them down into nontoxic substances. The formula is safe to apply on a variety of surfaces, including plastics and metals, and it creates no noxious fumes or odors.
Although D7 complies with environmental regulations, D7 is not FDA-approved for skin application. Users should wear gloves and goggles, plus a mask and protective clothing when applying the solution in close quarters.
PROTECT YOUR HEALTH
D7 also eradicates smells, a definite plus in close quarters like a jail or prison.
“If you can smell it, you are being exposed,” said Hill. “D7 attacks the source of the smells, whether it’s from vomit, feces or urine, and in doing so neutralizes the health threat officers are being exposed to.”
In addition to instant application with the BDAS+ unit, the bulk D7 solution can be applied with a foaming apparatus, low-pressure sprayer, mop or soaking system as well. Fogging can be especially effective for deodorization, whether in a cell or the infirmary.
“If you fog a cell with D7, in addition to applying D7 to the gross contamination from the BDAS+ or another applicator, not only are you removing the odor, you are also removing what causes the odor, both in the air and on any surfaces,” said Hill.
Corrections officers face numerous threats on the job, including exposure to hazardous narcotics like fentanyl and infectious diseases like hepatitis. Make sure you have adequate protection and decontamination tools so you can protect yourself from these threats.