First responders

Rrst responders are divided into two levels of competency first responder awcireness and first responder of -erational. First responders at the awareness level shall be trained to meet all of the requirements of Section -2 of this chapter and first responders at the operational level shall be trained to meet all of the requirements of Section 2 and Section -3 of this chapter. All first responders shall receive annual training to meet federal Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) and Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) requirements. 

The goal at the first responder awareness level is to provide those persons, who in the course of their normeil duties may be the first on the scene of a hazardous materials incident with the following competencies to help them act in a safe manner when confronted with a hazardous materials incident 

The goal at the first responder operational level is to provide the designated first responder with the following competencies to respond safely to the incident 

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A DOT regulation covers both domestic and international shipping (9). For transportation safety, the DOT has information for first responders to incidents involving elemental phosphoms (10). In addition, the Chemtrec phone number 1-800-424-9300 accesses DOT emergency information and assistance in the United States. Also, the phosphoms producers in the United States have estabUshed a Phosphoms Emergency Response Team (PERT) to assist in handling P emergencies. 

First Responders need only awareness training to recognize that an emergency response situation exists and are instructed to summon employees who are fully trained. First Responders are not to attempt to control activities for which they are not trained. 

The Hazardous Materials Specialist shall meet all of the objectives indicated for the First Responder and Hazardous Materials Technician. In addition, that person shall meet the medical surveillance program requirements in accordance with federal OSHA and EPA regulations. 

A minimum of 24 hours of training equal to the first responder operations level and additional competency in areas listed in 29 CFR (q)(6)(v)-... 

The above data should be useful for tlie planning to be accomplished by tlie local emergency planning committee and first responders, especially fire departments and HAZMAT teams. Both tlie hazards analysis (discussed in detail in Parts II and IV) and tlie development of emergency countermeasures should be facilitated by the availability of MSDS information. If significant new information regarding a chemical is discovered, revised material safely data sheets must be submitted. 

Always call 911 first to assure that first responders are dispatched to the scene to stabilize the release, render first aid, establish a perimeter, and extinguish/minimize the threat of fire or explosion. 

Instruct patients, family members, and caregivers on first aid for seizures. First aid for seizures consists primarily of keeping the patients from hurting themselves. They should be placed on the floor, if possible, and their heads cushioned. First responders to a seizure should never attempt to restrain them or force an item into their mouth. If a seizure lasts longer than 5 to 10 minutes, emergency medical assistance should be called. 

This would also include first responders such as emergency medical technicians, emergency room nurses, doctors, technicians, firefighters, police officers, clinicians, laboratorians, health department personnels, epidemiologists, as well as researchers and related professionals. 

A feature of biosensors that should be more fully appreciated by the counterterrorism community is their potential for dual use. Not only will commercial production be more sustainable if there is also a civilian application that produces a steady market demand, but users will have more confidence in a system that becomes thoroughly validated in a more predictable application. If the civilian application is one that also employs potential first responders, such as emergency room staff, veterinarians, or water treatment technicians, such individuals will more fully appreciate the value and limits of the technology. 

National Institute of Justice. Guide for the Selection of Chemical and Biological Decontamination Equipment for Emergency First Responders, NIJ Guide 103-00. Vol. 1. Washington, DC Government Printing Office, October 2001. 

The hardware and software experts at first responded that the differences were indeed purely statistical in nature. Later, they agreed the differences might be real, but that the results with the new system rather than the old should be assumed correct. (This was not a happy suggestion, for it carried the implication that several years of data, acquired with the minicomputer, might be invalid ) It was only through an exhaustive series of... 

The First responders provide detection in contaminated area with detection team established on at least two persons equipped with ... 

First responders engaged with rescue operations provide first aid to injured persons into the contaminated area, decontamination with... 

Strength Initial evacuees treated and vital signs monitored at decon check points established by Fire Department additional treatment station established at GVW Fire Department Station 2. Medical communications regarding signs/symptoms were clear and accurate. Haz-Mat/EMT/First Responder training conducted by GVW Fire Department now includes discussion of appropriate actions to this event. 

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