Argon simulation at NATO Exercise Clean Care

The biennial medical CBRN exercise organised by Working Team 4 (the medical subgroup) of the NATO CBRN Training Task Group was this year hosted by the French Armed Forces at La Valbonne Camp near Lyon, running from 6th to 10th November 2011.
The main theme of the exercise was the decontamination and initial medical treatment of chemically and radiologically contaminated casualties, with a range of scenarios enacted over two days (8th and 9th November).

Nearly 200 participants from Belgium, France, Germany, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom were joined by observers from other NATO member and partner states including Austria, Canada, Estonia, Finland, Hungary, Turkey, and the United States.

Argon and our French representative, APVL ingenerie, jointly exhibited a range of equipment on the 7th November, which included the EPD-Mk2-SIM personal dosimeter simulator, the RADSIM SS2 and RDS-200-SIM survey meters, the RADSIM DS3 contamination monitor and GMP-11-SIM simulation probe, in addition to AP4C-SIM, CAMSIM and LCD3.2e-SIM chemical detector simulators. 

Argon chemical and radiological simulators on display at Ex. Clean Care.

Over the following two days the Argon simulation systems were deployed to generate realistic sources of radiation and chemical release, and to provide simulated contamination of the 'casualties' for the various detector simulators issued to a number of the exercise responders.

Argon simulation sources were deployed at the sites of ficticous chemical and radiological releases...



...and on the bodies of the 'casualties' prior to commencement of the exercise scenarios.

A French CBRN (NRBC) 2nd Dragon Regt. recce team approach the exercise release site with the AP4C-SIM chemical detector simulator and the SS2 radiological survey meter...

...surveying the site of a simulated chemical and radiological release...

...and returning for decon in the rain.  Equipment deployed had included the EPD-Mk2-SIM dosimeter simulator.

A casualty is discovered to have been radiologically contaminated using the RADSIM DS3 simulation radiation monitor at a decon station.

Argon to attend NBC 2012

Argon will attend the NBC 2012 8th Symposiumon CBRNE Threats, to be held in Turku, Finland, 11^th-14^th June 2012.

The 20^th Anniversary event continues a long history of attendance by Argon at this highly regarded symposium series.  Argon exhibited with the NBC (UK) industry group in 2000 in Espoo, and returned to Finland for the 2003 event in Jyväskylä, sharing stand space with Avon Protection.  In 2006 and 2009 Argon independently exhibited in Tampere and Jyväskylä respectively and also gave papers during both conferences.

 

As the first company to book a stand for 2012, our return presence at this event marks another milestone in Argon’s development as the market leading provider of CBRN detection instrument training systems, and will expand on the concept and delivery of world class RealExperience Training™ (RET).

At the time of writing AirBoss-Defense (Canada), Blücher (Germany), CEA (France), GIE Défence (France), Inficon (USA), Mirion Technologies (USA), OWR (Germany), Paul Boyé Technologies (France), Temet (Finland), Tradeways (USA), and Trelleborg  Protective Products (Sweden) have also already booked their stands in Turku. 

We look forward to seeing you there, where you will be able to find us at stand 11 (just inside the main entrance; click here for the exhibition floor plan).

Real Experience Training (RET) from Argon

Click on a page to read the latest Argon brochure on Real Experience Training for CBRN and HazMat response.

APVL to exhibit at 8th National Radioprotection Congress, SFRP 2011

A l'occasion du 8ème Congrès National de Radioprotection, qui se déroulera au Centre de Congrès Vinci de Tours du mardi 21 au jeudi 23 juin 2011, APVL ingénierie présentera les tous derniers simulateurs détecteurs de radioactivité et chimiques Argon.

Organisé tous les 2 ans par la SFRP (Société Française de Radioprotection), le Congrès 2011 donnera l'opportunité à APVL ingénierie de présenter une gamme de simulation de plus en plus large, permettant de former de façon efficace à l'utilisation des dosimètres, des radiamètres et des contaminamètres sans employer de source radioactive.

Vous retrouverez à l'occasion des ateliers techniques organisés par APVL ingénierie l'EPD-Mk2-SIM (pour les utilisateurs du dosimètre EPD Mk2), le radiamètre générique RADSIM SS2 et le RADSIM DS3, utilisé notamment pour former les utilisateurs à la gamme Mini 900. De nombreux sites et organisations confrontés au risque nucléaire devant également faire face au risque chimique, le système AP4C-SIM, sera également présenté.

Tous ces produits ainsi que des documentations détaillées sont disponibles sur le catalogue en ligne d'APVL ingénierie.




APVL ingénerie will exhibit the latest Argon chemical and radiological detector simulators at the Huitième Congrès National de Radioprotection, to be held at the Centre de Congrès VINCI in Tours, 21-23 June 2011.

Organised biennially by the Société Française de Radioprotection, this year's event will see APVL showcasing the growing range of products available to enable comprehensive teaching of the correct use of radiation dosimeters, survey meters and contamination monitors without the need to utilise a single radioactive source.

Simulation systems on display will include the EPD-Mk2-SIM, for users of Thermo's EPD-Mk2 dosimeter, the generic RADSIM SS2 survey meter, and the RADSIM DS3 for training in the use of equipment such as the Thermo Mini900 series.  The AP4C-SIM detector simulation training system will also be demonstrated during the exhibition in recognition of the fact that many sites and organisations that face the challenges of radiation safety and security also face the task of dealing with potential chemical releases.

All of these products, as well as detailed product literature, are available across France from APVL's extensive on-line product catalogue.

Argon to exhibit CBRN simulation training systems at Ft. Leonard Wood

Argon is to be represented by JGW Group at the CBRN Regimental Week and Conference - or, to use its full title, the CBRN Regimental Week and Joint, Interagency, Intergovernmental, and Multinational – Industry, Academia (JIIM-IA) Conference - to be held at Fort Leonard Wood, MO, USA, 21-22 June 2011.

Argon has annually supported this event from way back when it was known as the World Wide Chemical Conference, and will once again display the latest chemical detector training systems including JCAD-SIM and PlumeSIM.

We look forward to seeing you in the exhibition hall on stand no. 65 this June.

To download the conference brochure click here.

Argon in Jane's Police Product Review

Argon's innovative concept of simulation as a means to enhance CBRN detector training forms the heart of an article that appears in the April/May 2011 edition of Jane's Police Product Review.

Appearing under the title "Reality Check", the article describes how training to face a threat that has been rarely experienced creates a number of difficulties, not least the lack of familiarity with the broad range of chemical and radiological detection instruments that can now be deployed in the event of such scenarios being realised.

The difficulties faced by police forces are exacerbated by the requirement to train in a public urban environment, but Argon simulation systems can overcome these limiting factors and provides instructors with the ability to objectively and fully assess the capability of their students with regard to detector use.

Adding Argon's PlumeSIM system to the equation further elevates the possibilities of realistic CBRN training by permitting large numbers of trainees to operate in wide area field exercise scenarios that can be individually created for any location with a few simple clicks of a mouse.

A number of UK constabularies have procured Argon simulators to ensure they can deliver training in the context of the public urban target environment.

Argon to attend Ambition 2011

Argon Electronics has registered to attend the Ambition 2011 exhibition, 22-23 June 2011, which will be held at The International Centre, Telford, U.K.

Billed as "the premier annual event for UK ambulance services, their partner agencies and suppliers", Argon will demonstrate a range simulators and systems for training emergency service frontline personnel in the use of chemical and radiological detectors without the need to use potentially hazardous sources.

Running in parallel with the the Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) Conference 2011 and the Ambulance Leadership Forum (ALF) Conference 2011, the exhibition will provide delegates with the opportunity to gain hands-on understanding of how to enhance critical instrument skills in preparation for response to CBRN, HazMat and radiological release events.

Equipment on display will include the EPD-Mk2-SIM for training in the use of the Thermo EPD-Mk2 dosimeter in any environment including public areas.  Able to replicate all standard and user customised display menu selections, the EPD-Mk2-SIM is compatible with Thermo EasyEPD management software.  The only thing missing is the need to use a real radioactive source or the piece of paper you used to hold up to indicate a reading!

Free to attend for registered delegates, we look forward to meeting you in Telford this summer.

Argon simulates radiation hazard for North West emergency services exercise

In what is understood to be the first UK event of its kind on this scale, a major regional response to terrorism exercise was given an additional degree of realism this month, when Argon Electronics provided Lancashire Fire Service with the ability to safely simulate the release of a radiological hazard.

Exercise DAKOTA was held for FRS and other blue light services in the North West region of England at the Washington Hall training centre on Saturday 12 February 2011.  The scenario involved the simulated crash of an aircraft following a terrorist hijack, and the release of a radioactive material at the site.

Firefighters were initially alerted at 08:00 and upon arrival were greeted by the tail section of an aircraft which had crushed a car with passengers inside.  Billowing black smoke led on to the main body of the aircraft, realistically manned by more 'injured' Casualty Union volunteers who had previously been 'contaminated' with safe simulant materials.  Other simulation sources were strategically located in the wreckage.

Approaching the main 'crash site' during Exercise DAKOTA.

Upon receiving 'intelligence' of potential radiological material release, specialist response units were then deployed.  Equipped with Argon simulators in reflection of the real detectors used by UK fire services, personnel were able to realistically carry out their roles without risk of harm or damage to themselves, other participants, their equipment or the environment.

Argon EPD-Mk2-SIM and RDS-200-SIM simulators supplied to FRS DIM Team.  The real RDS-200 was used with a GMP-11-SIM simulation probe.

FRS DIM Team approach the main crash site using a container for shielding against the simulated radiation threat.

The FRS DIM team approaching the discretely located simulation radiation sources.

Rescue of a 'victim' following identification of potential contamination...

...and cordoning of a simulated source after search with the RDS-200-SIM.

For further information on how Argon systems can enhance your CBRN training and exercises, contact us today.

Argon to attend USAF Global Medical Readiness Symposium 2011

Once again travelling to Orlando, FL, USA, Argon will exhibit at this year's USAF Global Medical Readiness Symposium, 17-18 May 2011.

The symposium will provide delegates with the opportunity to see at first hand the developments in the breadth and depth of Argon systems since they were displayed at this event last year. 

In particular, the PlumeSIM system for CBRN tactical field exercises has a host of new features, whilst at the same time the set up and control interface has been made even easier to use. 

The substantive work in expansion and updating of the range of Argon radiological simulation instruments will be highly visible, with simulation dosimeters, survey/radiac meters and probes being joined by what we believe to be the first spectrometer simulator of its kind, now available for SNM and other specialist training requirements.

For further information about this event or to find out more about how Argon can transform your CBRN training experience, contact us today.

Argon to attend National Radiological Emergency Preparedness Conference

Following the success of CBRNe Convergence in 2010, Argon Electronics already has two return trips to Orlando in Florida, USA, planned for 2011.

The first is to attend the 21st Annual National Radiological Emergency Preparedness Conference, 18-21 April, at the Rozen Plaza Hotel.

The focus of the Argon exhibition booth will be the RADPlumeSIM system for tactical radiological wide area field exercise training, with an integrated range of dosimeter, survey meter and spectrometer simulators also on display.

RADPlumeSIM enables cost effective training in the use of radiation dosimeters, survey meters and spectrometers without the need to use ionising radionuclides.

Argon will be returning to Orlando in May for the 2011 USAF Global Medical Readiness Symposium.

Argon at Counter CBRNe Operations 2011

Argon has been invited to speak at SMi's forthcoming Counter CBRNe Operations conference, to be held at the Millennium Gloucester Hotel and Conference Centre, London, U.K., 2-3 February 2011.

The Argon paper will be titled "REALISTIC TRAINING WITHOUT RISK: Enhanced CBRN Detection Instrument Training", and will include
 

• The difficulties presented by attempting to train with real detectors

• The instrumented CBRN training systems solution

• Integrated multiple instrument local training

• The complementary nature of simulation to live agent training

• PlumeSIM as a model for wide area CBRN field exercise training

If you've already booked to attend we look forward to seeing you there; to register please click here.