During trauma cleanup, all equipment and tools exposed to contamination must be:

In trauma cleanup, equipment and tools that have been exposed to contamination must be cleaned and decontaminated to ensure they are safe for future use. This process is critical in preventing the spread of pathogens or infectious materials that may be present due to blood or bodily fluids at the scene. Thorough cleaning and decontamination minimize the risk to both the cleanup personnel and the environment.

Cleaning typically involves removing visible dirt and debris, while decontamination goes a step further by using chemical agents or heat to kill potentially harmful microorganisms. This two-step process restores the equipment to a safe and usable condition, allowing for it to be reused without posing health risks.

Discarding and replacing equipment, while sometimes necessary, is not always feasible or environmentally sustainable, particularly when proper decontamination methods can effectively restore the equipment. Storing contaminated tools without decontamination is also unsafe, as it could spread contaminants. Finally, merely inspecting and repairing tools does not address the contamination issue itself, which poses a health risk. Thus, the focus on cleaning and decontaminating emphasizes safety and practicality in trauma cleanup operations.