A Hazardous Materials Technician course was hosted by the Lee Co Emergency Management Agency from 6-10
PM Fri Jul, 8AM-6 PM Sat and Sun Jul 12-13; and from 6-10 PM Fri Jul 18, through 8AM-6PM Sat and Sun Jul 19/20. The course
was paid for by the Alabama Depeartment of Homeland Security and was taught by the Center for Labor Education and Research
at the Unitersity of Alabama at Birmingham.
This was an intense, physically and mentally demanding course both
in the class room and in the field. One has only to experience suiting up in one of those HAZMAT suits in 95 degree heat and
perform critical skills in them in a potentially life threatening environment to highly respect our young men and
women who risk their lives every time they respond to a fire and especially to a hazardous materials incident. Without
studying the harardous materials subject, you could not imagine the chemical and biological threats that surround us on a
daily basis. However it is a huge credit to industry and transportation that most of these threats are safely contained.
But there is always the potential for accidents and terrorist events. And this is why we train.
The course was
attended by volunteer fire fighters from Lee County's Southwest and Farmville VFDs, Lanette VFD, one all the way
from Birmingham area; Lee Co EMA staff, ARES and CERT Volunteers.
Click on the following link for some pictures
from the course. I hope to add them to the Lee Co EMA webb site software permitting:
HAZMAT PICS