Photo by Harvey Eisner A Metropolitan Medical Strike Team (MMST) tractor-trailer truck carries a variety of equipment and supplies needed to respond to a terrorist incident or other major emergency.
Does this, however, mean we are ready or, for that matter would we ever be ready, for such an incident?
In Miami, we have had all the above and then some. We have received, on loan, from the feds chemical suits, boots and such. We have received detection tape and testing meters. We have been told we are part of an MMST that would respond to these types of incidents and be part of an integrated command system to mitigate such a problem. This is the hypothetical plan for when and if it actually happens.
Let us now return to reality and examine just what our capabilities are.
As the special operations officer and coordinator of the hazardous materials team in the City of Miami Fire Rescue Department, I have some serious concerns and I'm sure they would be reflected by other cities involved in this situation.
I do believe that the first-arriving companies at a terrorist, chemical or biological incident would die within the first hour of the incident. I have taught classes to this department, in EMT refresher classes and others, with the sincere hope that someone on the crew would recognize the signs and symptoms of this event, back up and reevaluate the situation from a hazmat perspective.
In the Miami-Dade County area we have participated in a full-scale chemical training event at the Orange Bowl, and recently took part in a biological exercise. It was amazing to see all the things that need to be done to contain such an event.
In the biological exercise, the scenario called for a terrorist to release pneumonic plague bacteria over a flea market in Everglades National Park. It was three days later when the first victims started showing up at local emergency departments. It was not for two days after that when an astute doctor put together just what was happening. EMS was overwhelmed. Panic set in, and a week later the body count was 600 dead and 25,000 cases recorded. Mind you, this was an event that was handled fairly well. Consider the tourists who boarded airplanes and cruise ships before the airport and port were shut down. Consider the state police closing down entry and exit from state borders. Florida is surrounded by water, so that task is "relatively" easy considering only the northern border. What if you are landlocked, have four sides to deal with, or are as large as Texas?
Too Little Training?
When this all started, we approached the idea with enthusiasm. The federal government loaned us a lot of equipment. The problem now, and always has been, that there was very little training in some of the sophisticated detection equipment. Some of this equipment was seen for the first time. I have asked several sources, some federal, for hands-on training on this equipment - and almost a year later, we have had none.
In this area there are three hazmat teams. Each one was given, for example, one anthrax testing kit. Six months ago, we had an anthrax alarm and the kit was used to test the substance. Fortunately, the incident was a hoax (the substance was salt and pepper), but now there are only two anthrax kits left in the county, and we do not have any. How difficult can it be to get us another kit?
We have received extensive training on antidotes to nerve agents, but have no antidotes on board EMS or fire equipment. All the Mark-1 kits are cached in three locations, to be taken to the scene when the event occurs. Nerve gas effects are immediate and death occurs in minutes. This is a sobering picture if you are one of the first responders on the scene.
When Y2K came around, the antidotes were distributed to the three hazmat teams and collected back the following day. When the soccer Olympics were held here, the same plan was used. This, of course, will work if a terrorist gives several days' warning that he is going to release a product.
I feel the federal government should issue those cities that comprise MMSTs a cache of antidotes, and have an available source to procure replacements when shelf lives expire. Firefighters, paramedics and EMTs should have these on board, and preferably one or two in their pockets, to protect themselves if they encounter such an event.
If the feds are going to address this aggressively, then do it right and 100%. We should be properly prepared and trained to give us a fighting chance so we can give the citizens we serve a fighting chance.
Chief Concerns is a forum addressing issues of interest to chief fire officers. Opinions expressed are those of the writer. We invite all career and volunteer chief fire officers to share their concerns, experiences and views in this column. Please submit articles to Chief Concerns, Firehouse Magazine, 445 Broad Hollow Road, Melville, NY 11747.
Deputy Assistant Chief Michael J. Essex is the special operations officer assigned to the Emergency Response Division of the City of Miami Fire Rescue Department. He is a member of the hazardous materials and dive rescue teams and is a SWAT-Medic commander.
