When decontaminating the back of your ambulance after a call, you should:

• A. Spray the contaminated areas and then immediately wipe them dry with a towel.
• B. Clean all surfaces and patient contact areas with a mixture of alcohol and water.
• C. Use a bleach and water solution at a 1:2 dilution ratio to thoroughly wipe all surfaces.
• D. Allow surfaces to air dry unless otherwise indicated in the product directions.

Answer: (D)

Disinfection works only if the surface stays wet for the time the product requires to kill pathogens. Allowing the disinfectant to air dry lets it remain on the surfaces long enough to do its job. If you spray and immediately wipe dry, you cut short that contact time and can leave some pathogens alive. Always follow the product directions, because different cleaners have different required dwell times and methods. Some products may specify air drying, while others may call for a wipe or a rinse after a dwell period. In this context, letting surfaces air dry unless the directions say otherwise is the correct approach.