Saturday August, 7 2021 @ 13:20

Nature: Vehicle Accident w/Medics

Location: 30593 Phillips Branch Rd Millsboro, DE 19966

On Saturday, August 7^th, the Indian River Volunteer Fire Company was alerted for a vehicle accident on Phillips Branch Road.  It was reported to be a two-vehicle collision with the possibility of a hazardous materials issue based upon the placards on the vehicle.

Emergency response units from Indian River included Rescue 80 from the Oak Orchard facility and Engine #80-1 from the Long Neck facility as well as the Delaware State Fire Police.  Other ancillary emergency alerts included the Sussex County Paramedics, the Delaware State Police, and the Mid Sussex Rescue Squad.  The vehicle placards were identified as pool chlorine and soda ash.

Emergency response crew assignments included vehicle stabilization, assistance with patient stabilization where needed, hazardous materials mitigation where needed, fluid and debris recovery, traffic control and incident mitigation.  Additional references included looking up the material safety data sheets (MSDS) for the components involved.

It appears that a white pick up was traveling on Phillips Branch Road approaching the sharp curve from the east and the black Jeep Cherokee was approaching the same curve from the west when the vehicles collided head on causing significant damage to both vehicles.  The potential for the hazard materials incident existed but the chloride and soda ash were not disturbed in the collision.  All occupants refused additional medical observations at the time of the mitigation activities.

The Delaware State Fire Police coordinated the complete closure of Phillips Branch Road for the duration of the incident.

The Delaware State Police are investigating.

Additional incident information: 

Material Safety Data Sheet (MSDS) - A material safety data sheet is a safety document that is provided by a manufacturer about a particular product. This generally includes physical properties, chemical properties, instructions for safe handling, emergency control measures, etc.

The basic purpose of the material safety data sheet is to provide the basic and necessary information about the substance that is transported, to the authorized personnel (e.g. workers, emergency response personnel, etc.) and its safe handling. The contents of this document vary depending upon the nature of the substance that is being provided by the manufacturer.

The MSDS usually contains information but is not limited to:

• physical information like the boiling point of the substance

• the toxicity

• the safe handling procedures

• the first aid procedures

• the reactivity of the substance

• storage of substance and its safe disposal etc.

Information regarding Hazardous materials involved: 

1. Soda ash for pools - Also known as sodium carbonate or soda ash, this product will raise pH levels under 7.2. Non-Corrosive Granular Formula: Use soda ash instead of using splashy chemicals to fix pool pH. Simply measure and pour into your pool for lightning-fast pH adjustment. Increases chlorine effectiveness. MSDS Sheet:  https://fscimage.fishersci.com/msds/21080.htm#:~:text=MSDS%20Name%3ASodium%20carbonate%20%20Catalog%20Numbers%3AAC123670000%2C%20AC123670010%2C%20AC123670025%2C,%20S263-10%2C%20S263-3%2C%20S263-50%2C%20S263-500%2C%20S263-500LC%2C%20S263-50LC%2C%20S495-500

2. Pool chlorine – MSDS Sheet:  http://www.msdsonline.com.au/msds/msdsview.asp?Std=1&ID=9dcae901-64e8-4da4-97d8-69afd0d8d794