Implementing Solutions:
Implementing Solutions:
By taking an inventory of hazardous materials in your community or materials that may be transported through your community
and where the closest response teams are located, you can determine if your community has access to trained individuals or
there is a need to develop an emergency response team. First responders training is the first step to keeping your community
members safe in the event of an emergency.
In the event of a hazardous materials spill, training and awareness in the following areas can initiate first response in most
situations: identifying a problem, notifying response teams, and securing an area until trained individuals arrive.
Notify primary response agencies and affected state and federal natural resources trustees if numbers are readily available.
Each state will have discharge notification and reporting requirements that you can find online or with your state's environment
protection office. Regional response teams are also identified in each state.
Resist rushing in and identify and understand the hazards before attempting to help others.
Position yourself upwind, uphill, or upstream from the hazard.
Stay clear of all vapors, fumes, smoke, and spills even if no hazardous materials are known to be involved.
Do not assume
spilled materials and their by-products are harmless. Many extremely toxic gases and vapors are colorless, odorless, tasteless,
and invisible.
Isolate and secure the scene without entering the immediate hazard area. Assess the situation and attempt to determine,
from a safe distance, upwind, uphill, upstream, using binoculars if possible.
Protect yourself and the public. Prevent the public from entering the spill site or its perimeter or coming into contact
with spilled material. Everyone who is not adequately trained and protected should stay upwind an out of low areas.
Do not walk into or touch spilled material and avoid inhalation.
Call for the assistance of trained personnel as soon as conditions permit. Keep the spill site secure and wait for properly
trained officials.
Evacuations in response to releases of oil or hazardous materials shall be conducted in accordance with Local Emergency
Response Plans (LERP). The LERP identifies under what circumstances evacuation is appropriate and necessary.
Please submit your experiences (successes/challenges) and tribal-specific documents to share on our website using the attached form.
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