About this Event
Hazmat Chemistry: "Hold My Matches and Watch This!!" with Brian Ramsey
Get ready for an exciting, in-person experience with Brian Ramsey diving into the wild world of Hazmat Chemistry! Expect dazzling demos, cool science tricks, and a whole lot of fun. This isn't your typical chemistry class—it's hands-on, thrilling, and guaranteed to spark your curiosity. Don't miss out on Brian's mind-blowing experiments that prove chemistry can be both safe and sensational!
"Hold My Matches and Watch This!"
This is Ramsey’s signature presentation, often delivered at major industry events like the International Hazmat Response Teams Conference. It is designed to be a high-energy, interactive, and "graphic" demonstration of how chemicals behave in the real world.
Core Concept
The title plays on the stereotypical "famous last words" of someone about to do something dangerous. The presentation aims to replace that dangerous ignorance with a deep, visual understanding of Physical and Chemical Properties.
Key Demonstrations & Learning Points
Rather than just showing slides of data, Ramsey uses live (controlled) demonstrations to illustrate:
- Flash Point & Flammable Range: Showing exactly how little heat or concentration is needed to turn a liquid into a fireball.
- Vapor Density: Demonstrating how "heavy" vapors (like propane) can "flow" like water along the ground to find an ignition source, versus "light" gases that dissipate upward.
- Vapor Pressure & Boiling Point: Explaining why containers fail and how temperature changes the volatility of a spill.
- The "Boom" Factor: Visualizing the dynamic tendencies of flammable vapors when they encounter oxygen and an ignition source.
The Goal
The presentation's ultimate objective is Risk-Based Response. Ramsey teaches responders that by understanding a chemical's "personality" (its properties), they can predict what it will do next, allowing them to make safer tactical decisions on whether to intervene or keep their distance.
Professional Background
- Eastman Chemical Company: Principal Emergency Response Manager and Fire Chief.
- Emergency Response Training Group (ERTG): Principal owner and lead instructor.
- Expertise: Certified as a Hazardous Materials Specialist, Rail Car Specialist, and Fire Instructor II.
- Leadership: Long-time member and former chair of the Sullivan County Local Emergency Planning Committee (LEPC).
Understanding vapor density and flash point is the difference between a controlled response and a catastrophic accident.
Event Venue & Nearby Stays
Grafton Building, 339 5500 West, Hurricane, United States
USD 0.00
