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NPP Fire Service Prepared for All Tasks

The Facility Fire Service of the Nuclear Power Plant, the Special Fire Extinguishing and Damage Prevention Branch of ATOMIX Kft is one of the most up-to-date and prepared ISO-certified fire services of the country. It is backed by a training strategy supported by thorough special knowledge, which is exemplary for all professional and voluntary fire services of our country.

The management of the NPP Fire Service has recognized the requirements of our fast developing and changing world in due course and has adjusted its training strategy to the demands dictated by life gradually and resolutely. Apart from ensuring technical conditions, training of their people and extension and maintenance of their knowledge are also amongst their priority tasks. The training strategy of the Paks service was taken over by several fire services of the country. In addition to training programs, the NPP fire-fighters have much more other tasks, in particular, from special duty through participating in plant operation activities to preparation for sporting and professional events, as well as maintenance of various machinery and equipment. Beside performing special local tasks, they render assistance – among others – if technical rescue events, accidents and disasters occur. Without endeavouring to be complete, we have compiled some events and novelties from the 1-2-year history of the Nuclear Power Plant Fire Service in support of the above.

Fire-fighters acting as ambulance nurses

The life of NPP fire-fighters was always characterized by continuous changes, they always strove to revive and comply with the challenges of the age. In this spirit they have participated also in emergency attendance of employees in the NPP area for more than one and a half years. This work is performed by a highly equipped ambulance car by an ambulance doctor, ambulance officer, and two ambulance nurses. All of the fire-fighters of the Power Plant, without exception, have intermediate first aid knowledge and many of them have an ambulance nurse’s or skilled ambulance nurse’s qualification. The experiences found till now are excellent: the ambulance doctors and ambulance officers have acquainted themselves with the life, appliances and equipment of fire-fighters. In the case of accidents they penetrate into the location and carry out rescue tasks while wearing protective clothes and breathing apparatuses. The same applies to fire-fighters. They gain many experiences in attending injured persons and those feeling indisposed, which can be used well in every-day life.

Exercise in fire

The staff of the Nuclear Power Plant Fire Service strives to provide an opportunity for its members to exercise under circumstances similar to real ones. Of course, it is not a simple task as possibilities are limited. The fire simulation truck, which has already appeared at NPP in several versions, is one of such limited possibilities. For example, last year Fire Dragon III was brought to Paks, which was a good help for NPP fire-fighters during preparation. In the special vehicle there are three firing areas with six kinds of fire events, including flashover which represents a really exciting and serious challenge. The fire simulation truck is an excellent opportunity for intervening units to be able to prepare for live events under lifelike circumstances. The truck simulates smoke and high temperature: 2-300 degrees at height of 1 m and 500 degrees on the top of the firing area. If somebody has already been in there and experienced such circumstances himself, he will probably act more circumspectly if delegated for a mission. Those who have participated in such training will be capable to intervene in actual fire events more safely and efficiently.

Making sporting successes

The staff of the Nuclear Power Plant Fire Service raises the good reputation of its organizational unit by numerous honourable sporting successes. For example, after 2005 and 2006 they won the ‘Profi Kupa’ invited for the football teams of full-time facility fire services this year, too. At the indoor football tournament organized last autumn for firemen of Tolna County they demonstrated that they play good football not only on the green grass: they returned home from the Szekszárd contest as winners. In 2006 the Paks facilities rowed to new opportunities, i.e. they put themselves to the test in kiting, and just with good results. They took the second place in several national festivals and finished in the fourth place at the national championship held in September.

Rescue and ambulance-men

Of course, the teams of the Nuclear Power Plant Fire Service are always present at professional contests. Their good results achieved at fire-fighters’ competitions of various levels definitely prove that the ‘Atomix staff” gives a good account of itself under all circumstances. The fire-fighters’ competition held in Tamási on 26-27 May 2006, where the professional, facility, voluntary, juvenile and student fire-fighters of Tolna County matched their professional knowledge and smartness, the NPP fire-fighters scored a splendid success. They returned home with four cups and numerous certificates and gold medals. Last year the Nuclear Power Plant Ambulance Service took the fourth place and received a special prize at the first international ambulance contest held in Csopak. At the rescue exercise organized at the Rám rift was attended by four fire-fighters of the NPP Fire Service and their work was favourably evaluated by the judges. Florian Cup X, the national jubilee contest of facility fire services was held in Zánka last autumn. The team of the Nuclear Power Plant Fire Service won the cup also on that occasion, just as at several times. They were the winners in two of three events and the special fairness prize was awarded also to them.

Kecskeméti Lapok – 10 May