During decontamination in a crowded space, what is a priority action to reduce exposure to bystanders?

• A. Close doors and isolate the area
• B. Wait for the spray to dissipate
• C. Evacuate bystanders if possible
• D. Increase spray to forward area

Answer: (C)

The key idea is protecting bystanders by moving people away from the spray path. In a crowded space, the OC spray plume can drift and contaminate others who weren’t targeted. The quickest, most effective action is to evacuate bystanders to a safe area or behind barriers whenever possible. This reduces inhalation and eye exposure and helps prevent secondary contamination on surfaces or clothing.

Waiting for the spray to dissipate or trying to push more spray into the forward area would keep exposing more people and worsen the situation. Closing doors or isolating the area can help in some cases, but it doesn’t ensure that bystanders who are already near the plume are removed quickly enough.