Little General Store Propane Explosion - US Chemical Safety and ...

Little General Store September 2008
propane release and treat it as a hazardous materials incident. It emphasizes the importance of evacuating
the incident area and evaluating the hazards from a safe distance prior to taking other actions.
Additionally, it addresses incident command structure implementation and the advisory role of propane
service technicians. None of the Ghent Volunteer Firefighters had participated in this program.
5.5 911 Emergency Call Center Response
At many 911 call centers around the United States, operators use quick-reference guide cards to help them
evaluate caller emergencies, gather pertinent incident details, and convey life-saving information to
callers. Several organizations in the United States produce pre-written guide cards for 911 centers to
purchase. 46 These guide cards provide easy-to-access information for operators, including questions
relevant to the emergency and instructions to be given to the caller prior to emergency services’ arrival.
Specific sets of guide cards exist for health and injury, fire service, and police response emergencies.
Raleigh County 911 uses guide cards for health emergencies and injuries only.
At 10:40 am on the day of the incident, the propane service technician called Raleigh County 911 to
report the release and summon emergency services. The operator who received the call did not have a
guide card or protocol to help evaluate the situation, collect pertinent information, and provide guidance
to the caller.
46 Guide cards are available as printed or electronic references and kept at each operator’s station.
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