By: Rebecca Hudson
Murray County News Staffwriter
The Slayton Fire Department and Murray County Ambulance Association have partnered in designing training drills that will provide emergency rescue crews with vital training using a school bus as a model, and their first session was held this month.
The training focuses on methods of rescue and treatment of multiple wounded victims and was initially conceived by the fire department earlier this year after a used school bus was located and purchased. Partnering with the ambulance crew will provide valuable hands on experience for all fire fighters and emergency medical technicians who will in turn be prepared should the need ever arise.
“Our goal at this point is to utilize this practice time with our staff and equipment to familiarize ourselves with school buses,” Murray County Ambulance Director Jenny Kirchner says. “We are very experienced when it comes to car accidents because they are much more common than bus accidents, so our time spent drilling on the bus has purpose for both departments.”
Bus accidents are extremely rare, Kirchner notes, yet it is important that the rescue crews be adept at handling one should it occur.
The initial drill went well, according to Kirchner and included volunteer youth who served as victims in the mock crash scene. Crews worked at stabilizing the vehicle and removing victims. Future drills will focus on triage and treatment of victims.
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