Firefighter Paramedic trains for WMD in Anniston, Alabama

Scott Robinson is a Firefighter/Paramedic for the National City Fire Department

Recently Scott Robinson of the National City Fire Department attended an exclusive training facility in Anniston, Alabama. This training facility trains first responders at no cost with funds earmarked by Congress for the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) and the Department of Homeland Security (DHS).

The Center for Domestic Preparedness in Alabama is a federal training facility for delivery of high-quality, comprehensive preparedness training programs for the nation’s emergency responders.

Scott said he was very fortunate to go to a Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD)
Technical Emergency Response Training (TERT). In the beginning of March, Scott’s particular classes were held in Anniston, Alabama at an old army fort now run by the Center for Domestic Preparedness. This is the only federally-chartered WMD training facility in the nation. The TERT class was 32 hours long and involved intensive training in chemical, biological, radiological, nuclear, and explosive weapons that could be used by terrorists against the United States or its citizens. Scott was also taught mass decontamination and triage techniques.

Firefighter Robinson spoke very highly of his training. He said, “This is by far the best fire service related class he has ever taken. This was real world training and was the best training that I have been to as a firefighter. I would highly recommend others attend.”

Scott wants to get the word out to the rest of the firefighting community that this excellent and intensive training is available to all firefighters and other related first responders and health care professionals.

The last day of Scott's training he was exposed to GB (Sarin) and VX neurological agents. Combined together these gases and toxic fumes were enough to kill around 1000 people. This training ensures that any of the first responders exposed to a biological disaster, gain critical skills and confidence to be better prepared to effectively prevent, and recover from real-world incidents involving acts of terrorism and other hazardous materials incidents.

Scott is a seven year firefighter/paramedic that decided to take this week-long series of courses to enhance is firefighting and paramedic skills. Scott was just one of many paramedics, firefighters and some health care worker from all around the United States that enjoyed the week-long training courtesy of the Federal Government.

— Used with permission of the 1st Responder Broadcast Network