Training

Ask yourself a question. Would you feel comfortable drawing a gun and going into a house after an armed subject without first having been to a range? How about charging into a burning building to retrieve someone trapped on the second floor unless the proper techniques had been learned at a fire academy?

The same logic can be applied to the arena of methamphetamine abuse and clandestine laboratory response. Our greatest assets are derived from the education and experiences we have prior to encountering a specific situation. For instance, you are at a meth lab and have been assigned to direct the assessment team. You accept the assignment and turn to ready your equipment. The dilemma is that you?ve had no training. What chemical protective equipment should you select? What type of air monitoring gear needs to be taken in, colormetric tubes or a photoionization detector?

Fortunately, we don?t have to reinvent the wheel. Information is out there, and is readily available. Numerous courses are available in the world of investigation and chemical response. Information for all levels of responsibility is available from Awareness level for the Patrol Officer, to Incident Command classes for those residing in the higher pay grades.

The bottom line is this: learn how to protect yourself.