With the emergence of soda bottle meth and other stuff that can hurt us, unseen, one of my fire department buddies provided me with these guidelines:
Cop-o-meter for HazMat Response:
Cop standing and talking------------Non-Hazardous
Cop unconscious--------------------Hazardous to Humans
Cop unconscious, cruiser stalled-----Oxygen displacing
Cop unconscious, cruiser on fire-----Flammable
Cop and cruiser melting-------------Radioactive
Also look for Cruiser to find the hydrant hiding behind it!!!
Similar to this and the rule of thumb for HAZMATS is the "Rule of Doughnut":
1. First arrive on scene and pull out a doughnut, preferably powdered.
2. Next, hold the doughnut up.
3. Check to see if you can see the whole scene through the hole of the doughnut.
4. If you cannot see the whole scene through the hole, you are too close. Back up until the scene is visible through the hole.
4a. If you can't see any of the scene you have a jelly doughnut. Get a different doughnut.
5. Check your uniform: powdered sugar blowing on your uniform means you are downwind and on the wrong side of the HAZMAT. Change directions until the powdered sugar is blowing away from you.
6. If you can see the whole scene and the powdered sugar is blowing away from you, you are now in a safe location.
7. You may now enjoy the doughnut as it's going to be a LOOOOOOOONNNGGG call.
8. Reevaluate your position throughout the call using this process.
***NOTE*** : If at any point during this process you cannot find your doughnut, only crumbs and powdered sugar, you have eaten your doughnut. Get another doughnut and refrain from eating it until reaching Step 8.
http://forums.officer.com/t178920/
