May 18, 2006 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE (SH2006-24) FOR ADDITIONAL INFORMATION R. Steve Huffman Public Information Officer (251) 208-5806/Fax: (251) 208-5813 E-Mail: huffman@cityofmobile.org HAZ MAT CREWS RESPOND TO RELEASE Mobile Firefighters and Haz-Mat crews responded to two related haz mat incidents at Mobile Infirmary Medical Center, located at 5 Mobile Infirmary Circle and the UPS Distribution Center, located at 1909 Wolf Ridge Road. The calls were received at approximately 10:19 p.m. Wednesday, May 17, 2006. A Nurse at Mobile Infirmary called Mobile Fire-Rescue Department to report that an UPS supervisor transported two personnel from UPS to their facility after being exposed to an unknown yellow powder. The Emergency Room was locked down while the product was identified. Fire units were dispatched to the hospital to isolate possible contaminated persons and property, set up a decon area, perform decontamination and wait for update on substance identification. Firefighters and Haz -Mat crews responded to the UPS distribution Center to identify the substance. Upon arrival they were told that an unknown product in the back of a trailer had put off vapors and sent two employees to the hospital. Haz-Mat team members made entry into the trailer to take samples and ID the product. A Supervisor at UPS gave Haz-Mat Team members the shipping papers with a list of five products. Team members found a trail of yellow powder in the trailer and after researching it was determined that Copper Chloride fit the description of the signs and symptoms the employees were experiencing. The Haz-Mat team notified firefighters at Mobile Infirmary to decon the employees and to open the emergency room. A private contractor was called in for clean up. The emergency room was closed for approximately one hour. Copper Chloride is a yellowish-brown powder used to manufacture other chemicals, in dyeing, printing, fungicides and as a wood preservative. Inhalation causes coughing and sneezing. Ingestion causes pain and vomiting. Contact with solid causes severe eye surface injury and skin irritation. Engines 8, 12, truck 17, rescue 3 and District one Chief, John D. Young responded to Mobile Infirmary. Engines 14, 15, truck 10, rescue 14, Haz Mat 15 and District 3 Chief Bill Hunter responded to UPS. ###