By Staff
TRAINING n Rick McCary passes a "victim" through a bus window to Daniel Welch, left, Michael Welch and Thomas Perkins. The training was part of an annual exercise for emergency rescue
personnel. Paula Merritt/The Meridian Star.
By Steve Gillespie/The Meridian Star
June 10, 2001
About 100 area first-responders sloshed through the annual "Rescue Day" held at the Lauderdale County Training Center Saturday.
The mud and drizzle hurt this year's turnout, according to Dorothy Vance, vice president of the Lauderdale County Emergency Medical Responder's Association.
Eight hours of training were available at the event for emergency medical service, firefighter and law enforcement personnel.
Rescue Day is sponsored by Metro Ambulance, Lauderdale County volunteer fire departments and the EMR Association.
Butler said in addition to Lauderdale County personnel, some first responders attended the training from Clarke and Newton counties.
Various stations were set up to simulate emergency response situations. Plans for a water rescue had to be canceled due to the weather.
Stations that were active included the rescue of a child from a home destroyed by a tornado, entering a house engulfed with fire, extrication from a vehicle with a rescue saw, rescue of a woman from a school bus and low angle rope rescue.
Demonstrations were also held to teach and refresh first responders on how to tie proper knots in rescue situations with rope and webbing.
Steve Gillespie is a staff writer for The Meridian Star. Call him at 693-1551, ext. 3233, or e-mail him at sgillespie@themeridianstar.com.