Hazmat Training in Township Today May Sound Like the Real Thing

If you hear an abundance of sirens in the township today, it may not necessarily be a real emergency. Nearly two dozen firefighters and other first emergency responders will descend on Gloucester Township today for hazardous material training at Camden County’s Regional Emergency Training Center. The free course is being offered to tri-county emergency responders. “These are the first responders that would be called for a hazmat emergency such as the train derailment that occurred in Paulsboro,” said Freeholder Ian Leonard, liaison to Camden County College which oversees the training center.  “Our Camden County Health Department hazmat responders assist with the instruction and guide students through several simulations that they may encounter in the field.” The exercise is the culmination of an 80-hour program presented to first responders with the knowledge and techniques they need to protect themselves and the public during an emergency situation. They also learned the appropriate offensive or defensive actions that need to be taken during incidents that require level A and B protection. Students received homework, weekly quizzes and a final exam, and participants were required to complete all 80 instruction hours to be certified. The Camden County Regional Emergency Training Center is located at 420 Woodbury-Turnersville Road in Blackwood, NJ.