Safety training course scheduled to educate first responders about advanced electric-drive vehicles

MERRILLVILLE, Ind. - First responders can learn how to react to accidents involving hybrid vehicles, battery-powered vehicles, plug-in vehicles and fuel-cell electric vehicles during a training course set for Aug. 30.

The First Responder Safety Training program will be from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. CDT at Ivy Tech Community College, 3100 Ivy Tech Drive, Valparaiso, Ind. It is sponsored by South Shore Clean Cities Inc., Ivy Tech Community College, Northwestern Indiana Regional Planning Commission and the National Alternative Fuels Training Consortium, a program of West Virginia University.

Carl Lisek, executive director of South Shore Clean Cities, said the program is intended for firefighters, law enforcement officials, paramedics, emergency medical technicians, hazard response teams, code officials, vehicle retrieval personnel and construction permitting officers.

"Participants learn important information needed to safely respond to accidents involving advanced electric-drive vehicles," he said. "These topics include vehicle identification, vehicle and fuel properties and characteristics, vehicle components, and recommended first responder procedures."

Lisek, who is co-founder of Purdue Research Park-based Legacy Environmental Services, said participants will receive a manual that outlines key information about each type of electric-drive vehicle.

"It also includes vehicle history, operations, battery technologies, infrastructure and first responder procedures like vehicle identification, personal protective equipment, and extrication," he said. "This information also will be provided in a quick reference guide that can be used on the scene of an accident and a mobile application version of the guide that is available for Apple and Android devices."

Members of South Shore Clean Cities can receive one free ticket to the program. Cost to participate is $175 for non-members. Seats are limited; RSVP to 219-644-3690 or ssmithsscc@comcast.net. To read more information about the event, visit http://bit.ly/P0sa90

About South Shore Clean Cities Inc.

Designated as the 71st Clean Cities Coalition on June 15, 1999, South Shore Clean Cities was founded on the principle that motivated individuals working together for common goals best accomplish our nation's objectives. In almost 100 coalitions, government agencies and private companies voluntarily form partnerships that meet the objectives of improving air quality, developing regional economic opportunities and reducing the use of imported oil.

About Purdue Research Park

The Purdue Research Park, with four locations across Indiana, has the largest university-affiliated business incubation complex in the country. The park network is home to about 200 companies that employ 4,000 people and are located in West Lafayette, Indianapolis, Merrillville and New Albany.

Purdue Research Park contact:

Steve Martin, 765-588-3342, sgmartin@prf.org

Source:

Carl Lisek, 219-644-3690, southshorecleancities@gmail.com