February 25, 2009

MEDIA RELEASE                                                                      Contact information

For Immediate release                                                            Chief Michael B. Mansfield

                                                                            Phone # 978-475-1281 x2001

For the past month all Andover Fire Rescue personnel have been participating in a twelve (12) hour EMS Personal Protective Equipment and Decontamination program delivered by instructors from the Massachusetts Fire Academy in cooperation with the Massachusetts Executive Office of Public Safety and the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

The program was delivered to all personnel while on duty at no cost to the Town of Andover or Andover Fire Rescue as the result of grant funding availability through the Massachusetts Department of Public Health.

The two day program covered such topics as Emergency Medical Services Decontamination, WMD classifications, defensive hazardous materials response, hazardous materials incidents impact, types of hazardous materials chemical protective clothing, detection equipment, Hazardous Materials Incident Command structure and concluded with several case study overviews, the donning/doffing of hazardous materials decontamination personal protective equipment and decontamination procedures.

As a result of the training, Andover Fire Rescue will place hazardous materials decontamination equipment in service to ensure that the personnel are appropriately equipped and prepared to respond to incidents where the decontamination of those involved in an incident, can be safely performed prior to medical treatment on scene, or at a medical facility.