Hazardous materials teams

People commonly ask, What they would expect when they call 911 notes Captain Nick Campasano. At least here in Manchester, I m familiar with what will happen. We will dispatch on the fire department side the closest engine company and our hazardous materials team. They will not be responding with lights and sirens. They will be driving with traffic, they will park in a discrete area, they will enter your facility with all of their... 

Aiken County Emergency Management After-Action Report Graniteville Train Wreck. Aiken, SC. January. Aiken County Hazardous Materials Team exclusive Web site, athttp //www.Hazmat-Team.com, http //www.hazmatteam.com/ March 29, 2006. 

Graniteville Train Wreck (DVD). Aiken, SC Aiken County Hazardous Materials Team (January) 2005. 

Ideally, a hazardous materials team at the scene will be able to provide assistance regarding the specifics of the exposure and the potential treatment. A local poison control center also may be able to provide assistance. 

Fire departments and hazardous material teams have traditionally described the decontamination processes with two terms—"technical decon" and "medical" or "patient decon." "Technical decon" is the process used to clean vehicles and personal protective equipment (PPE) and "medical" or "patient decon" is the process of cleaning injured or exposed individuals. 

While the exact number of hazardous material accidents occurring each year may not be known, available data does suggest that for most incidents there are few, if any, injuries (Sullivan and Kiieger, 1992). However, terrorists use of a chemical or biological weapon is likely to lead to scores of injuries and fatalities. The rapid implementation of effective triage and initiation of decon will be vital to optimizing victim survivability and responder safety. But how these two processes should be conducted is neither well known nor extensively studied in the civilian setting. Most hazardous material teams and hospitals have limited... 

Under non-fire conditions, health effects of drug labs that responders could be exposed to can be varied. They can range from respiratory problems, skin and eye irritation, headaches, nausea, and dizziness. Little is known about long-term effects of exposure. Cleanup of an abandoned lab is a hazardous materials team function, usually by a private contractor, but emergency services HazMat teams could be called upon to assist in evidence preservation and collection. 

Employee training. Although OSHA training requirements are a minimum standard for many facilities that have a fire brigade, hazardous materials team, rescue team, or emergency response team, general training for all employees shordd address ... 

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