TOLEDO, Ohio — The city of Toledo Division of Environmental Services received $15,000 for the purposes of first responder hazardous materials training, state representative Michele Grim announced Monday.
According to the press release from Grim's office, the funding was awarded to the city by the state of Ohio's Public Utilities Commission with the intention of training first responders, who are often subjected to hazardous materials during the course of their duties.
“It is essential that our first responders can best serve our community regardless of what type of emergency may arise in the future," Grim said in the press release. "This training will ensure that local officials are prepared to handle any emergency in a way that prioritizes both the community and their own safety when dealing with hazardous materials."
Northwest Ohio first responders recently assisted in cleaning up a spill on the Ohio Turnpike after a multi-vehicle crash resulted in the spilling of sulfuric acid.
First responders are often the ones who first report hazardous material spills to the Ohio Environmental Protection Agency, according to the state's hazmat response resources. First responders are encouraged to report traffic-related incidents will the possibility of a spill, even if it has not yet occurred.
The Federal Emergency Management Agency said first responders use a risk-based response process to respond to hazmat incidents, known as APIE. This stands for "Analyze, Plan, Implement and Evaluate".
WATCH MORE
