AHLS

NomadicMedic

NomadicMedic

I know a guy who knows a guy.
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Anyone here taken Advanced HazMat Life Support? I'm in it next month. Seems better than a standard merit badge card class.

https://www.ahls.org
 
Amazing course!! Highly recommend it, truly though like most things if you don't use it you lose it.. I need to take the refresher...
 
We have a BIG chemical plant in our first due, volunteer fire, no real close hazmat response. Chances are, if I was in shift, I'd be one of the first responders there if something went awry.

The plant has a team, but no medical other than first responders. It seems like it's worthwhile.
 
NomadicMedic said:
Chances are, if I was in shift, I'd be one of the first responders there if something went awry.
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Are you guys hazmat trained to the level of, say, hazmat technicians?
 
my ex gf went through it with the FD, and she said it was a great class. I don't think it's a HazMat class (as in get in your level A suit and go get the guy out), but discusses issues to look for. If it was in NC I would love to crash it... although Savannah is only 8 hours away ;-)

They do have an online BHLS class too https://www.ahls.org/ahls/ecs/courses/onlineCourses.html?ctid=224
 
NomadicMedic said:
The plant has a team, but no medical other than first responders. It seems like it's worthwhile.
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Honestly, your best bet (and I am a HazMat Tech) would be to let the team bring them to you, handle all decon, and give you a very wet patient where you can work on making sure he doesn't die.

and always remember my rule when it comes to hazmat incidents:
If my basic HazMat training has taught me nothing else, it's that if you see a glowing green monkey running away from something, follow that monkey!
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Yeah. This what our involvement is, "I'll be over here. Bring him this way after you douse him. What? You can't hear me? I'll yell louder"

Also, we don't carry much in the way of HazMedic drugs. No 2pam, not enough atropine to be effective, no cyanokits.
 
NomadicMedic said:
Also, we don't carry much in the way of HazMedic drugs. No 2pam, not enough atropine to be effective, no cyanokits.
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Do the facility responders carry anything that could be useful? I think many places allow DuoDote for BLS self protection, and others for self protection and patients, too
 
A lot of HazMat medicine is symptom management outside of the few obvious ones like cyanide or organophosphates.


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NomadicMedic said:
Also, we don't carry much in the way of HazMedic drugs. No 2pam, not enough atropine to be effective, no cyanokits.
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every ambulance in NJ was given a 2pam/duodote after 9/11, in case there was a chemical attack. they have since expired, and are still on the trucks, because management won't spend the money on something that will probably just expire again.
 
NomadicMedic said:
Yeah. This what our involvement is, "I'll be over here. Bring him this way after you douse him. What? You can't hear me? I'll yell louder"

Also, we don't carry much in the way of HazMedic drugs. No 2pam, not enough atropine to be effective, no cyanokits.
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Is there anyway that the plant could supply medications? Nearly all of our cyanokits in the county are cached at the mine, with a provision that they can be brought out for use anywhere in the county.
 
Tigger said:
Is there anyway that the plant could supply medications? Nearly all of our cyanokits in the county are cached at the mine, with a provision that they can be brought out for use anywhere in the county.
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All good questions. I think once I take this class I'll have a lot of questions and perhaps I can set up some meetings and maybe joint training with the HAZ guys at the plant.

We also have a fair amount of hazmat traveling through the county via rail and on 95. The more I read about this, the more I want to learn.
 
While interesting, this sounds like a very low yield, high risk type of situation.
 
RocketMedic said:
I personally use the Rule of Thumb: If my thumb can't cover it, I'm definitely too close.
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I use rule of pinkie. If my pinkie can't cover it, I'm too close...
 
I'm glad I actually took the time to read this thread... for a moment I thought AHLS was "Advanced Hockey Life Support" as we all (should) know about the fights on ice, commonly known as Hockey.

I was once trained to Hazmat Awareness. I'm not planning on being trained in Hazmat Operations. That being said, given that you can be exposed to hazardous materials fairly easily, I'm considering finding and taking this course at some point in the next year or so. Might come in handy for being an ED RN.
 
DrParasite said:
every ambulance in NJ was given a 2pam/duodote after 9/11, in case there was a chemical attack. they have since expired, and are still on the trucks, because management won't spend the money on something that will probably just expire again.
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The county health departments were supposed to pick up a whole new cache....I know many didnt. But i also know that my county did

I took the class, it was interesting. It was also free and i was getting paid and was in overtime, so $30/hr i couldnt turn down the chance
 
Im taking Hazmat awareness and ops next month. This looks like it would be a great addition to that but the closest class is 8 hours away.

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Finished day one today. It's interesting and being taught by toxicologists, a PharmD and a Doc from the poison control center.

Case studies were interesting and although it was all PowerPoint driven, there was enough interaction to keep it moving.

We finish up tomorrow. So far it gets the thumbs up.
 
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