Training Fire-fighters’ for decontamination
The threats of physical and environmental contaminations occurring have increased. It’s the fire fighting department that gets the first call in case a calamity occurs. Traditionally, fire-fighters were trained to extinguish fires and save people. With the threat of contaminations, fire-fighters now are being trained for decontamination processes as well. However, not all fire-fighters employed in countries around the world are trained in decontamination. But special units of fire-fighters are given special training in decontamination.
The first and universal form of pollution that arises is physical pollution. Industrial areas that use perilous objects and acidic matters have a greater chance of causing physical pollution. Then there are laboratories, gas plants, and other similar places where physical pollution happenings may take place. In fire-fighter’s decontamination training, fire-fighters have got to be able to discern that physical pollution has happened.
They are trained to setup mobile decontamination wash areas, and the victims are made to take off their contaminated clothing, take a shower, and are given fresh robes to wear. In case the decontamination shower units get late in arriving, the fire fighters may hose down the victims. They are trained to turn the pressure down of the hose pipes, make the victims disrobe and hose them down.
There are so many types of environmental contaminations that can take place and fire-fighters cannot be trained to handle all of them. When a fire fighting station gets a call of an incident of contamination, there immediate response is to get the decontamination unit in to position. The fire-fighters of decontamination units wear special clothing along with gas marks and other protective gear. They cordon of the area, search for any victims of contaminations, and remove them. They then proceed to locate and shutdown the cause of contamination.
After controlling the cause of contamination, they collect samples of contaminated material which is sent for laboratory tests. After which the method required for decontamination is implemented.
Because of the variety of contamination that can occur, fire-fighters who are trained in decontamination only demarcate the contaminated area and cordon it. Contamination can either be biological, radiological, or chemical, and can affect water, air, food, etc. In areas where there is a possibility of occurrence of contamination, there are clean rooms, safety showers, eyewashes, and other decontamination equipment installed. Local laws are enacted and enforced to ensure that safety standards are adhered to.
Fire-fighters educated in sanitization obtain focused training and are equipped differently from the customary fire-fighters. They make the second line of defence, since the former are the regular fire-fighters. Usually a fire engine will get to the site and send a report in case pollution is suspected. This stimulates the decontamination unit to get into movement. It is then there job to take care of the decontamination.
Fire-fighters who are trained in decontamination do not reside in all the fire stations in a town or city. There maybe one unit of fire-fighters trained in decontamination that is located at one station. This unit has workers and special equipment for handling decontamination and respond when there is suspected contamination. More and more city and town councils are now getting fire-fighters trained in decontamination as they have recognised this as a potential hazard.
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