In mid April, 2012 several train cars began leaking chemicals in the rainy Village of Lordstown, Ohio. Luckily for the citizens of Lordstown, this was only part of a disaster response training exercise for local first responders.

Each year in conjunction with the Emergency Management Agency, members of the Local Emergency Planning Committee proctor a drill to test the emergency response plans of local agencies and improve the responses to a variety of different situations.

“Because we are using this as a test to see what our local emergency responders are capable of, we don’t release a great deal of information until the day of the drill,” said Linda Beil, director of the Trumbull County Office of Homeland Security and Emergency Management. “That way they aren’t already familiar with the situation and know what to expect.”

Drills may cover any kind of disaster, including bus crashes, hazardous material spills, or even terrorist situations. Each county is required to complete a hazardous material drill each year, which may be a tabletop-style drill or an actual live event. Each county is also required to do a full-scale disaster every four years.

“In the event of any type of disaster it might certainly require a call for a multi-agency or multi-jurisdictional response,” Beil said. “It’s nice to know the capabilities of our counterparts, and the more we practice together the more coordinated and fluid our responses will be during an actual event.”

“We are testing our own people. We want to make sure we are prepared for any emergency that might happen in this county,” she stated.

Mass casualty incident trailers and decon units line up in the parking lot of the Ohio Commerce Center.

Firefighters were not told what to expect until they arrived on the scene Saturday.  A train pulling tankers of chlorine and acetone ruptured, starting a fire and releasing chlorine into the air. Led by the Lordstown Fire Department, along with departments from the Trumbull County Water Shuttle, crews sprayed the train with water to remove contaminants.  Dressed in protective clothing, members of the Trumbull County hazardous materials team contained the chemical leak.

What kind of disaster response drills have you utilized to ensure that you’re ready when the time is right? Please leave us a comment below or contact us to share your contribution!

Medix Ambulances was excited to display its latest ambulance model – the MSV II – at FDIC earlier this April. David Wood of Medix was kind enough to give us a video tour of some of the key components of this rescue vehicle:

Features:

• Doors now come equipped with a seal on the inside edge of the door that helps to seal the compartment tighter and protect equipment from the elements. There is also a new style latch (made by TriMark) that give the door enhanced durability. Rhino style liners round off the list of additions that make this ambulance once tough emergency vehicle.
• Increased door height on the curb side door make for easier entry.
• Angled and padded cabinets have been affixed for additional safety. Corian counter tops, a wide CPR seat section with dual adjustable harnesses for safety, and storage above squad bench and rear doors can also be found in the box of this ambulance.
• Different configurations are available for ALS cabinet, which is inside / outside accessible.
• An optional, hybrid multiplex electrical system is available as opposed to the standard hardwire breaker relay system
• Seven 900 series whalen lights are mounted on the front of the ambulance instead of a traditional light bar, which are much easier to clean and maintain.
• For details on this ambulance or more on Medix ambulances please fill out our contact form or leave us a comment below!

(Note: This video is best viewed in Full Screen)

The 9/11 Memorial Stair Climb was truly a sight to see. The brotherhood that these men feel when they take to a flight of stairs, whether at FDIC in a memorial climb or in a real-life emergency scenario, is an extremely powerful and meaningful thing.

It all began in solemn prayer remembering those whose lives were lost in the line of duty on 9/11. After a brief speech the bagpipes began to burst with their traditional Irish color. That’s when the climbing ensued.

Stair after stair, step by step, Lucas Oil was conquered. A man behind me whispered, “Good luck son,” as his hero marched up the concrete and beyond into the rafters of the echoing stadium. On the minds of these men and women were those who perished courageously in the line of duty. On their chests were name tags and pictures of victims who fell on that fateful day. After a total of 110 stories worth of stairs were on their belts and in their hearts, each firefighter came back down.

In remembrance of those whose lives were lost, please consider visiting firehero.org and give back in any way you can. Stair climbs are a great way to organize support and raise money for firefighters across the nation.

Please leave us a comment on your experience at FDIC or with the stair climb below. We’d love to hear what you have to say!

Also, consider checking out this video on Dave Statter’s blog of Brian Bush explaining the importance of the climb.