Flanders Firefighters Practice Decontaminating Victims with the Help of Local Scouts

Firefighters and EMTs from Flanders, NJ, responded to a practice incident where children played victims contaminated with a white powder. The department's decontamination unit was used to help the "victims," members of a local Cub Scout troop.
 
FLANDERS, N.J. - Aug. 28, 2013 - PRLog -- FLANDERS – When a group of Scouts found themselves injured and covered with a suspicious white powder on a recent Thursday night, Flanders Fire Company #1 and Rescue Squad (www.flanders-fire-rescue.org) firefighters and emergency medical technicians responded with a special decontamination unit.

Fortunately for the six members of  Cub Scout Pack 47, it was just a drill, and their parents watched and cheered as firefighters in full decontamination suits with breathing apparatus dressed and splinted their “injuries” and rushed them into a special heated tent with hot and cold water where the Cubs were “scrubbed” by the firefighters, still in the special suits.

Once decontaminated, other firefighters in regular turnout gear whisked  victims to another area where, under their parents’ watchful eyes, they were “treated” for their wounds.

“This decontamination unit is one of the special pieces of equipment we have available to deploy if needed,” said Fire Capt. Kevin Elms, who oversaw the drill. “Fortunately, it’s not something we use often, so we’re grateful to Cub Scout Pack 47 for letting us cover them with baby powder and get them wet as we simulated washing them so we could practice.”

The unit was issued to Flanders Fire/Rescue by the Morris County Office of Emergency Management in the wake of the Sept. 11 terrorist attacks. If a mass decontamination was to occur in the area, Flanders would respond with its decontamination unit. Other departments would accompany Flanders to supply additional equipment, water and staffing.

The decontamination unit includes the tent, a generator, a hot-water heater, a heater to warm the air in the tent and the supplies to do the job. Those include a conveyer for patients on backboards and packs given to walking victims who can shower in the tent, put their contaminated belongings in a bag that is tracked by fire and law enforcement officials and a gown they can put on after removing their own clothes.

There are three “lanes” in the tent, defined by curtains. One is for men, one for women and the conveyer for the injured goes down the middle. Each lane has hot and cold showers. The decon unit has seen service in New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina and at other natural disasters. It was last deployed in the Flanders Firehouse as a community shower after Hurricane Sandy.

“We practice setting the unit up, which involves putting up the tent, installing the floor and attaching the water hoses and air and water heaters, and equipment to collect the contaminated water,” said Elms. “This is the first time in a while we’ve gotten to practice the whole process with real people.”

Elms, and EMS Lt. Cindy Zeller, said the department must practice using equipment like the decon unit to be ready to respond to a real incident. The drill also gives new members a chance to learn about the wide variety of equipment needed to respond to a hazardous materials or decontamination incident.

The Flanders Fire Company and Rescue Squad No. 1 provides fire protection and emergency medical services to residents and businesses in Flanders and, through mutual aid, surrounding towns. It is made up of about 25 active members, all of whom receive training in fire suppression, rescue, hazardous materials response, homeland security issues and emergency medical services. The fire company operates two fire engines, one tower truck, one heavy rescue, a brush-and-foam truck, two ambulances, a multiple-casualty unit and a mass decontamination unit.

In addition, the fire company offers public education services including lectures, demonstrations, training and a trailer that safely simulates a smoke-filled home. For information about membership, donations or public education, call (973) 584-7805 or click on www.flandersfire.org.
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