Adventist Bolingbrook Hospital officials have a new 22-foot-long, $62,000 decontamination trailer they hope they never have to use.
Even so, it's a comfort knowing the trailer is parked right outside the hospital's emergency room in case of a biological, chemical or radiological terrorist attack, they said.
The hospital already has a decontamination unit in its emergency room, but that allows only one person to be cleaned at a time.
"The mobile unit can decontaminate 120 people in one hour," said Sue Smith, director of emergency services at the hospital.
Hospital officials bought the trailer last month with money from a Department of Homeland Security grant.
Smith said the unit works like a mobile shower connected to a fire hydrant. She said the decontamination fluid is nothing more than soapy water. Three people at a time enter the trailer, rinse under the shower, then exit the trailer wearing clean paper suits.
"Just hosing people off decreases their exposure to harmful contaminants by about 90 percent," Smith said. "There's also a lot of anxiety for people who suspect they were exposed to harmful substances."
Under a coordinated warning system, hospitals would be notified by state officials of a suspected or possible terrorist attack. For example, the hospital was on high alert during the recent presidential elections, Smith said. It is also on heightened alert during large gatherings such as festivals and sporting events.
Anthrax or exposure to an unknown substance at a large gathering would warrant use of the trailer, hospital officials said. Officials may also decide to use the trailer for incidents unrelated to terrorism—for instance, if industrial workers were exposed to harmful contaminants.
Smith said many hospitals in the region are recipients of Homeland Security grants and have bought mobile units of their own, including Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood and Bolingbrook's sister hospital Adventist Hinsdale Hospital.
Hospital officials plan to conduct training exercises with employees in May.