First Responders
When passengers in RDU's terminals need first aid or other medical attention, RDU's Emergency Services personnel are the first to arrive on scene. Given Emergency Services' central location between RDU's two runways, responders can arrive anywhere at the airport within minutes.
All of RDU's Emergency Services personnel are certified Emergency Medical Technicians. They establish contact with the patient, stabilize the injuries or illnesses, provide basic and advanced life support if needed and transfer care to Emergency Medical Service units for further treatment and transport to area hospitals.
Emergency Services personnel also respond to any fires or suspected gas leaks on airport property. Also, since fuel is a very common hazard found at the airport, Emergency Services respond to any reports of fuel spills to ensure that such highly flammable and combustible materials don't pose a hazard to those working nearby.
Emergency Training
One of Emergency Services' primary responsibilities is to be ready for aircraft emergencies. The department is in contact with the Air Traffic Control tower at all times and maintains three trucks to deal with the largest of aircraft incidents.
Even though actual emergencies are rare, crews are put on alert for possible action dozens of time each year. To keep their skills sharpened, personnel routinely perform training exercises and drills to make sure they are ready when the alarm sounds. Sometimes, this involves joint training exercises with area mutual aid agencies to ensure they are able to work together effectively should the need arise. Read more about RDU's recent Skydrill exercise.
Other Duties
Emergency Services personnel are also responsible for a variety of safety inspections across the airport, including making sure each building's fire alarms and fire extinguishers are working properly.
Personnel are also very involved in the Terminal 2 construction project to ensure they are trained on every aspect of the building's fire safety systems. They are also working to familiarize themselves with every part of the new terminal to ensure a quick response in the event of an emergency.
On the lighter side, crews assist the Airport Authority and various tenants during special events. Emergency Services often showcase their unique fire trucks to the public during events at RDU. On occasion, crews provide the traditional water arches to welcome fallen military heroes as well as new airlines and flights. |
