What type of extractors should be used during trauma site cleanup?

HEPA-filtered extractors that exhaust air outside are crucial during trauma site cleanup because they effectively trap and filter out hazardous particles, including biological contaminants and pathogens that may be present at the scene. The High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are designed to capture 99.97% of particles that are 0.3 microns in size, which include bloodborne pathogens and other harmful debris.

Using equipment that exhausts air outside minimizes the risk of contaminating the indoor environment, protecting both the cleanup crew and any occupants of the building from exposure to potentially infectious materials. This method ensures a safer cleanup process and adherence to health and safety guidelines, which is paramount in trauma and crime scene cleanup scenarios where the risk of exposure to harmful substances is significant.

In contrast, portable or manual extractors may not provide the same level of filtration and could recirculate contaminated air, while chemical extractors might not be applicable or necessary in all trauma cleanup situations, thus making them less ideal choices for this specific context.