Does your Department Require HazMat training?

[tunnelrat83]

Hey just wondering I was having a discussion w/ some friends about this.. does yalls department require Hazmat Training and if so to what level.

for example my county requires HazMat Ops for the FFs and HazMat Awareness for the EMS only people

[AJ]

we are "required" to have ops to be hired. awareness is a good start....

recently our bosses started pushing for HazMat for EMS class instead of HazMatOps - still fulfilles the requirements for the state but its a 16 hr class instead of 24.

[THE_DITCH_DOCTOR]

The fire department requires HazMat Ops for all personnel (even those rare souls who do strictly EMS), but if you want to be promoted to an officer position (LT or above) you have to be HazMat Technician. I have mine, but personally I don't fancy myself a glowworm so I avoid potential HazMat calls as much as possible.

[VillageEMT]

We have Hazmat Awareness as part of EMT training and as part of continuing education.

[battlemedic345]

There's talk about Pennsylvania requiring providers to be certed in HazMat...but as yet its just at the county and squad level.

I use the thumb rule, hold up your thumb at the scene. If the scene is bigger than your thumb then YOU GOT TO GO. Haha.

[Richard B the EMT]

FDNY EMS crews are taught to "Awareness" level. Some, like, I think, BKone, are trained higher, as they are on "Haz-Tek" units.

BKone, want to follow up on this one?

[BK One Henry]

FDNY EMS has many Haz Tac units (ALS and BLS) through out the city trained to "technician"level.We are trained to operate in the "hot zone"in level A fully encapsulated suits w/SCBA's.The main responsibility is triage,medical management ,and decon of contaminated Pt.'s.We are also trained to administer antidote (Atropine and 2pam).

This training isn't required,but it should be!All other EMS personnel are trained to "awareness"level.

[EMT-B 55]

I wish they were required. Trying to find HazMat Awareness and the Haz Mat Tech courses in the area is a bear. the closest is the Fire Institute at U of I CHampaign. trying to find the time off to attend and the cash for the course right now

[Medic One]

YES we requir HAZ-MAT Ops for line staff and Tech for Officers

All classes provided cost free by the city with mandatory recerts anually for Ops and bi-Anually for Officers

[Richard B the EMT]

May I suggest contacting the National Safety Council, or possibly ChemTrek (spelling?)? If they don't do the classes, they might be able to refer you to those who do.

The rule of thumb is always a good idea, but they also tell you to use your telescopic device to check out the suspicious vehicle's placard from the Rule of Thumb distance. FDNY never assigned the EMS Command any such devices, so I have an X8 monocular. Kind of looks like one side only of a set of binoculars.

When not on the HazMat assignment, the thing can be used to look at other stuff. I work at a beach, and can check out the action, look at incoming jets to JFK, boats, you name it, as long as it's out in public view anyway.