WNS Decontamination Procedures

[shibumi]

Thanks, but I'm really waiting for the NCRC folks to respond to this.

The position is: we are asking that people with equipment that
has been used in WNS states arrive with new equipment or equipment that has not
been used in WNS states. Regardless, all equipment that is not either new
or has not been thoroughly cleaned will be required, at check in, to be run through
the decontamination stations that we will have set up. The FWS most recent recommendation
is impractical for running a training operation and we feel is excessive given the
nature of the situation. All caves used at the seminar are both geographically
close and are caves that are routinely visited in short order by local cavers,
myself included, such that they can for all intents and purposes be considered one
cave.

Anmar Mirza, National Coordinator

[Teresa]

And in the event of a real rescue?

[caveman94]

Here is another way to disinfect your gear.... an egg incubator? read this....
http://www.recordonline.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20090517/NEWS/905170329
this may be the answer!

[cavedoc]

And in the event of a real rescue?

In the event of real rescue it will be handled by locals that will have equipment appropriate for the area. If they've trained in WNS states then they'll hopefully bring clean equipment, because they'll be caving in those states already. Remember that the NCRC is not a funtional rescue team, it is a training organization.

[Scott McCrea]

This was posted to TAGnet today. If you use any of the high strength cord in your vert system and have deconed with bleach, you might consider replacement.

I just ran across a comment on page 91 in the book Life on a Line by Dr.
Dave Merchant. He speaks of Aramids which is a generic term for Spectra
and Kevlar. He says, "One important fact is that aramids are massively
damaged by bleach. Even a 2% solution will reduce the strength by over
95% after a few hours, and if you leave it to soak overnight it will
fall apart in your fingers."

We have been talking a lot about nylon being degraded by repeatedly
soaking it in bleach...many of us have components on our climbing
systems that use Kevlar Tech Cord or Dyneema spectra slings. It is
apparent that bleach is not the best answer. At the NSS Convention
everyone's gear and clothing that went caving received a
significant soaking at a high percentage for 10 minutes each time
they went into a cave.

Bruce Smith
On Rope 1, Inc.
www.onrope1.com
423-344-4716

[ArCaver]

http://www.todaysthv.com/news/local/sto ... 31&catid=2

[PYoungbaer]

We understand that a revised set of USFWS protocols is currently under review, but have no details yet. Stay tuned.

[PYoungbaer]

The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service yesterday posted a PowerPoint presentation of the revised WNS decontamination protocols. We put a link to it on the NSS WNS Page - in the Cleaning and Disinfecting box just after the Breaking News. It's fairly short - about 4.5MB, so downloads quickly.

This Powerpoint was presented at a June 9 webinar USFS did for the National Park Service.

[Scott McCrea]

Is this info available anywhere in a more user-friendly format? Like a plain web site? PPT is fine for presentations, but the average caver (who is assumed to be a major part of the intended audience for this info) probably won't go out his way to download and figure out how to view it. Especially, if they don't have presentation software. I'm just saying, it needs to be easier.

[Jeff Bartlett]

Agreed. I can't even open a powerpoint document, which means I have no way of finding out what's in it...

[John Lovaas]

I've just converted the PPT into a PDF- and I'll upload it to a caves.org server in a minute or two. Hopefully, The Men In Black won't show up at the door.

PDF is good, yes? I hope so.

[John Lovaas]

Here's a 3mb, screen resolution PDF of the PPT:

http://caves.org/grotto/wss/nps_deconta ... 9_2010.pdf

[PYoungbaer]

Folks,

We just try to get these things up and available as soon as possible. The USFWS also said in their e-mail that they will put revised protocols up on their webpage soon (but we all know that may take a while).

In the meantime, the PowerPoint is something that can be downloaded and shown at grotto meetings or at public forums. Despite the complaints here, I've already gotten a lot of positive feedback about the Powerpoint format. So, some like it hot, some like it cold.....

Thanks for the pdf John, we'll try to get that up, too.

[Carl Amundson]

I have not seen this posted here.
Virginia is no longer requiring complete decomm of gear if you cave within the region, just thorough cleaning.

Caving Protocols in Response to White-Nose Syndrome in Virginia
July 12, 2010 (supplants previous statements)
http://www.dcr.virginia.gov/natural_heritage/documents/wns_recommendations_va_jul_12_10.pdf

Highlights:
Cavers are encouraged to thoroughly wash their gear when moving between cave systems within the WNS range to decrease the number of Geomyces spores and other pathogens, contaminants, and organisms transported between caves. Decontamination protocols are available at http://www.fws.gov/northeast/wnscavers.html for those cavers continuing to implement full decontamination procedures.

[cavefox]

Thanks Carl!