Fire And Hazmat Response Series (One Of Three): Preparation Is More Than Key, It’s Vital

14 Apr 2021

From chemical fires to gas leaks and explosions, emergency responders are the first on the scene and take control of potentially devastating situations. And during those critical moments, preparation is more than key, it’s vital.

Effective response starts before the team even arrives at the scene because every second matters when it comes to saving lives and protecting the Hazmat team, the environment, and neighboring communities against potential harm.

The following are four key ways to prepare before addressing a hazmat incident:

• Keep the right gas monitoring equipment on board: In any fire or hazmat incident, some of the most critical pieces of information will likely come from gas detection devices. Teams on the ground, at the command center, and across multiple agencies will depend on gas monitoring information to make critical, time-sensitive decisions. Data from these devices can help improve response speed and effectiveness to determine the appropriate courses of actio - and potentially save lives. It is critical to have the right devices on hand before even getting to the scene to avoid impeding the team from focusing on more important tasks. For an immediate advantage, choose devices that are built to meet the unique needs of a chemical emergency or hazmat response, including lightning-fast setup and instant connectivity. Not every gas monitor on the market stands up to the test. For example, many gas monitors require complex, time-consuming setup procedures and rely on mesh or Wi-Fi networks, which can make it difficult to connect to a command center if there is any interference from obstacles like buildings, trees, and other topographical features.
• Check battery life: In emergency situations, the team should be focused on human life, not battery life. Most gas monitors only provide 16-20 hours of those crucial gas readings, while fire and hazmat incidents can last at least 24-48 hours. This means is likely a need to charge the device batteries during an incident, frequently check the remaining battery life to avoid downtime, and carry backup devices for when the batteries inevitably die. Hauling around extra devices adds unnecessary costs and takes up valuable storage space in the hazmat vehicle, and setting timers to check batteries distracts the team from the task at hand. Travel lighter and stop spending precious time checking batteries during an incident by choosing an area monitor with battery life measured in days, not hours. For example, the G7 EXO from Blackline Safety provides 100 days of continuous cloud-connected run time, so the team can stay focused on the immediate response.
• Prep the devices en-route: Once the team is dispatched and en-route, turn on devices and get them connected so are ready to react to the incident as soon as pull up to the scene. As receive more information and details about the incident, choose the appropriate sensors to match the gas risks of the scenario-whether responding to a carbon monoxide or natural gas leak, a chemical fire, or a potentially explosive incident. To save valuable prep time, choose an area monitor with pre-calibrated sensor cartridges that can be swapped out in seconds. As new information comes in, the team needs to be able to prepare for the exact gas risks of the scenario. Since the plug-and-play sensor cartridges are interchangeable between the G7 personal gas detectors and the EXO area monitor, don’t need to carry around backup equipment and can pick and choose the cartridge for each device that is right for the incident. With 20 pre-calibrated sensors available, the G7 and G7 EXO ensure the team is ready for any situation before even arrive.
• Be ready to drop and go: When the team arrives at the scene, the gas monitoring devices should be ready to drop and go, so can quickly evaluate the situation, set the perimeter, and determine the appropriate course of action. Speed of deployment is critical–mere minutes can mean the difference between life and death. Choose area monitors that the team can simply place where needed, without worrying about settings or connectivity. With the G7 EXO area monitor, just drop the device where want, push the setup wizard, and the device is connected in few minutes and instantly visible on the Blackline Live portal from anywhere without range limitations.

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Preparing for a chemical emergency or hazmat incident begins with choosing the right portable gas detectors and area monitors. Once the team is dispatched, use transit time to ensure equipment is ready as soon as arrives.

Having the right equipment in the arsenal will enable a faster overall response, help the team make informed decisions quickly, and protect the safety of the responders and the local community.