After chlorine gas exposure, which action is NOT recommended?

• A. Move to fresh air and administer high-flow oxygen.
• B. Decontaminate if contaminated.
• C. Re-expose to chlorine gas to flush the lungs.
• D. Monitor for bronchospasm.

Answer: (C)

Chlorine gas irritates the airways, so the priority is to remove the person from the source, support breathing, and limit further exposure. Moving to fresh air and giving high-flow oxygen helps correct hypoxemia and reduces ongoing airway irritation. If there was contamination, decontamination is essential to remove chlorine from the skin or clothing and prevent additional exposure to the patient and responders. Monitoring for bronchospasm is important because chlorine can provoke airway hyperreactivity; timely observation allows prompt treatment with bronchodilators if needed. Re-exposing the lungs to chlorine gas to “flush” it out would increase the inhaled irritant dose, worsen airway injury, and raise the risk of respiratory distress, so it is not advised.