A group of Fannin County firefighters recently completed an eight-hour class designed to teach the safe and effective extrication of victims from a school bus accident.
The class addressed the issues that can come from responding to a school bus accident, the incident command structure, the construction of different types of buses, and the rescue techniques needed, Michael Cornelius, the department’s training chief, said.
A total of 22 Fannin County firefighters took part in the Saturday, November 13, training that included both classroom instruction and hands-on work. Multiple scenarios were presented to challenge the firefighters.
“The techniques that were taught to the department were those that blended into the working knowledge that we have for basic extrication.
“As the construction of the school bus is an entirely different approach, these new techniques will allow us to safely and effectively save lives,” Cornelius said.
The training chief expressed appreciation to Leigh Hollins, a Fannin County resident, of STARFIRE Training Systems, Inc., and Firefighter Kevin Keough for instructing the class, which was presented free of charge.
The training is part of the department’s efforts “to develop the best firefighters for the citizens of Fannin County,” Cornelius said.