What is a common method for assessing skin contamination?

A common method for assessing skin contamination is utilizing a chemical agent detector. These devices are specifically designed to detect chemical agents that may be present on the skin or on surfaces. They provide a scientific and reliable means of determining exposure to harmful substances, which is essential for medical personnel and first responders when assessing individual safety and contamination levels.

While visual inspection for rashes, checking for breathing difficulty, and observing changes in skin color may provide some information about a person's health status, these methods do not specifically assess contamination from chemical agents. Instead, they may indicate other health issues or reactions that are not directly related to chemical exposure. Thus, the use of a chemical agent detector is the most effective and precise method for determining skin contamination in a CBRN (Chemical, Biological, Radiological, and Nuclear) context.