Lapland agencies prepare to deploy emergency equipment within a day

Lapland rescue and safety authorities have trained to respond to serious threats using new protective and monitoring equipment, Yle reports. In a real emergency, supplies from Finland’s reserve stocks could reach the scene within about a day, according to Rovaniemi’s acting fire chief.

The training took place this week at a fire station in Rovaniemi and focused on CBRN threats: chemical, biological, radiological and nuclear hazards. Participants practised using equipment similar to that held in Finland’s emergency reserve stocks, including gas-tight, splash-proof and liquid-tight protective gear, as well as isolation capsules for patients.

CBRN specialist and physician Nikolai Rintala said the capsules are used to protect people transporting a patient with a dangerous contagious disease. They are not normally needed in Finland, but could be required in the event of an Ebola infection, he said.

The exercises also aimed to familiarise authorities with the equipment and help them build working relationships. Chemical-threat expert Topi Varho said cooperation between different authorities was important. Rovaniemi’s acting fire chief, Ville Rankinen, said it was useful for participants to get to know one another and train with the equipment available to them.

The equipment used in the training is also held in RescEU emergency reserve stocks across Finland. The EU-funded and EU-owned reserves are activated by the European Commission when a country’s own resources are insufficient. They are primarily intended for EU member states, but can also be made available to the 10 countries participating in the EU Civil Protection Mechanism, including Ukraine.

Finland has committed to beginning shipments from the reserves within 12 hours. Rankinen estimated that, including bureaucracy and transport, equipment could reach its destination in Finland in about a day.