First Due Hazmat

You have spent countless hours preparing for and conducting scene size-ups of fire-related incidents. But how effective or sufficient is your size-up of a Hazmat scene? The first several minutes will set the tone for the next several hours.

Think back to your first HazMat Operations class. For many, the class was taught by an instructor who was making sure the HazMat Box was checked for Level I Firefighter. For many the class was summed up with the “rule of thumb," essentially if you can’t cover the incident with your thumb, you are too close. This has produced a generation of HazMat Ops certified firefighters who believe their only recourse on a HazMat incident is to call out the local or regional HazMat Technician Team. Not true!

This course is designed to reintroduce HazMat Operations level skills that First Due Companies can utilize to better identify, control and/or mitigate some of the most common and simple HazMat incidents. Attendees will be introduced to the “RINSED" concept and other best practices that they can bring back to their department and implement now on calls from spills and leaks to train derailments. First Due Companies will be better prepared for size up to providing high quality intel and support to the local or regional HazMat Technician Team.