Published July 10. 2025 07:51AM
Members of the Parkland High School Science of Firefighting class held its annual hazmat drill recently in the high school auditorium lobby.
Participants identified a mock hazardous substance, cordoned off the area, attended to victims, mitigated the hazard, performed all operations in a safe manner, and notified the appropriate school and local agencies involved.
About 20 students participated in addition to members of surrounding fire departments.
This was a special day for these students as it gave them the opportunity to don firefighting turnout gear as well as the much more cumbersome hazmat over gear needed to protect hazmat responders from severe chemical exposure during an emergency.
The class is conducted by Eric Gopen, Parkland High School social studies teacher and fire captain with the Lower Macungie Fire Department.
PRESS PHOTOS BY LOU WHEELANDArion Bizati and Jace Dutsch, of the Parkland High School Science of Firefighting class, use a harness attached to a F.A.S.T. (Firefighter Assist and Search Team) board to remove a “victim” (Ethan Arias) from a hazardous environment during the hazmat drill held recently at the high school. Greenawalds Fire Capt. Mark Kleibscheidel was directing their efforts.
Greenawalds Fire Capt. and Paramedic Mark Kleibscheidel demonstrates the functions of a F.A.S.T. (Firefighter Assist and Search Team) for students in the Parkland High School Science of Firefighting class during the annual hazmat drill held recently in the high school auditorium lobby. Students wear hazmat protective suits and self contained breathing apparatus.
Members of the Parkland High School Science of Firefighting class use a F.A.S.T. (Firefighter Assist and Search Team) board to remove a “victim” (Ethan Arias) from a hazardous environment during the hazmat drill. Greenawalds Fire Capt. Mark Kleibscheidel is seen in the background.
Parkland High School Science of Firefighting student Jace Dutsch is getting fitted with a self contained breathing apparatus with assistance from Woodlawn Fire Assistant Chief Chris Mariner and Fire Science instructor Eric Gopen.
Parkland High School Science of Firefighting student Theresa Kleibscheidel monitors the blood pressure of fellow student Haider Al Jumaily during the annual hazmat drill held in the lobby of the high school auditorium.
