What is the term for the process of decontaminating large groups of people?

The process of decontaminating large groups of people is referred to as Mass Decontamination. This term is used to describe coordinated efforts to relieve the immediate risk posed by hazardous materials affecting numerous individuals, particularly during an emergency response situation such as a chemical spill or a biological event.

Mass Decontamination focuses on quickly removing contaminants to prevent further health risks and is often implemented in scenarios with a high number of affected victims, where individual decontamination methods would be inefficient or impractical. This process typically involves the use of established protocols and equipment to ensure that large volumes of people can be processed safely and effectively.

In contrast, the other choices refer to more specific types of decontamination. Routine Responder DECON applies to the process used by first responders after they have handled hazardous materials. Emergency Decontamination might refer to more immediate, but not necessarily mass, actions taken in urgent situations. Technical DECON usually involves specialized personnel and equipment dealing with intricate decontamination processes that are beyond basic methods, often applied to complex environments like contaminated sites or vehicles.