On Friday, September 23rd, The Greater Long Island Clean Cities Coalition held a First Responders Safety Training Seminar. The seminar, held on the campus of Stony Brook University, was created in conjunction with the U.S. Department of Energy and the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium at West Virginia University. It was tailored specifically towards alternative fuels and alternative fuel vehicles.
This course was designed to reduce the risks taken by first responders when responding to an accident involving alternative fuels, alternative fuel vehicles, and advanced technology vehicles. It was also conceived to be a great benefit to fleet garage maintenance managers. The course focused on Electric Drive Vehicles (EV) and Gaseous Fuels (natural gas and propane) and Gaseous Fuel Vehicles. The course included classroom sessions as well as workshops with appropriate vehicles on site. There was a CNG powered Honda Civic as well as a Chevy Volt for the attendees to inspect.
The course was taught by two certified instructors from the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium, a Program of West Virginia University. Mark Schmidt, a trained mechanic, handled the technical aspects of the vehicles. Gary Garisi, a firefighter from California, spoke about the myriad of issues first responders face when battling a fire in an alternative fuel vehicle. Both Mark and Gary provided valuable information and personal accounts.
Each of the participants that attended the course received a free workshop booklet for Electric Drive Vehicles, Gaseous Fuels and Gaseous Fuel Vehicles, as well as a free Quick Reference Guide.
The response to the seminar was so overwhelmingly positive that we hope to run additional seminars in 2012. Our goal is to have one in Nassau and one in Suffolk, to make it easier for people to attend. GLICCC feels it is crucial to bring this valuable information to as many fleet managers and first responders as possible. We will announce these events as soon as the details have been finalized.
