Local Personnel Prepare in case of Hazmat Emergency

Local Personnel Prepare in case of Hazmat Emergency
Greenwood Today - Greenwood,SC,USA

Lesley Lane - GwdToday News Reporter 06.OCT.08

A simulated train derailment Saturday morning, spilling thousand of gallons of toxic chemicals got city and county emergency personnel on the move as they participated in a functional training exercise at the Greenwood Civic Center.

Greenwood County Emergency Management simulated a hazmat spill Saturday that spanned across both city and county jurisdictions in and effort to properly and efficiently prepare emergency personnel for an actual spill.

The objectives of the day were to test and communicate response plans, establish and operate a unified command post and to establish and operate a chemical decontamination tent.

The simulation was that of a train that had derailed, spilling a large tanker filled with liquid formaldehyde and two tankers filled with chlorine in vapor form.

Local Boy Scouts from troops 270, 313, 911 and 53 participated in the simulation as victims who had been contaminated during the spill.

The boy scouts were sent through a chemical decontamination tent where they were sprayed with water and scrubbed with brushes by emergency personnel dressed in full Hazmat gear.

Members of the Greenwood Fire Department practiced getting the boys through the decontamination zone as quickly as possible in an effort to prevent skin and respiratory burns from the chemicals as if they had actually come in contact with them.

According to Greenwood County public safety Commander George McKinney, in a real life chemical spill where victims come in contact with toxic chemicals, emergency personnel would spray victims with a low grade bleach solution, an agent which counteracts the chemicals. For Saturday’s exercise, only water was used.

A unified command post was also set up where emergency personnel from both city and county jurisdictions came together to operate a single command post.

“The spill was simulated to cross into both city and county jurisdictions. We combined personnel from both jurisdiction to create one command”, said McKinney.

Agencies present and participating in Saturday’s event included, Greenwood City Police Department, Greenwood County Sheriff’s Office, Coronaca Fire Department, Northwest Fire Department, Hwy 34 Fire Department, Greenwood City Fire Department, Greenwood County EMS, 911 Dispatch, Radio Communications, DHEC, Self Regional, The Red Cross and the Coroners Office.