Photo By Pam Goodhart | 240925-A-BS696-4632 CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. Lt. Joe Shapiro, Lancaster City Bureau of Fire...... read more read more
CHAMBERSBURG, Pa. – On Sept. 26 and 27, approximately 20 Letterkenny Army Depot firefighters joined several Chambersburg Fire Department firefighters to complete a rope rescue training course in downtown Chambersburg.
Designed for the experienced rescuer, the Bucks County Community College (BCCC) course offers participants with a strong working knowledge of technical rescue in accordance with National Fire Protection Association 1006 and 1670. The emergency responders covered rope rescue systems, application theories, and high-angle challenges to accurately and safely execute the skill sets required for professional certification.
According to Dave McGlynn, LEAD fire chief, this is not the first time LEAD firefighters completed this course. In 2021, BCCC presented this training and currently the firefighters train quarterly, if not monthly, on technical rescue scenarios which involves using ropes for rescue, confined space, and rappelling.
“The mission at the depot has a lot of unique potential risks for a confined space or technical rescue emergency,” said McGlynn. “Therefore, we incorporate that specific skill into our regular training requirements.
“From this course our firefighters will gain additional knowledge of rescue systems, rigging, practical capabilities, but mostly confidence within themselves. Technical rescue can be tedious, overwhelming, and scary. The firefighters can build a confidence in how to properly execute those needed skills through training and repetition in that training.”
According to McGlynn, in April 2024, LEAD firefighters assisted local firefighters on a call of a worker who was stuck in a grain bin in Greencastle, Pennsylvania. The technical rescue involved high-angle rope rescue, confined space operations, and the use of a specialized rescue kit for grain bins
“Rope and technical rescue are specialized skills, and we were able to use our training, skills and equipment to assist in the successful outcome of the worker’s removal from the grain bin,” stated McGlynn.
Lt. Joe Shapiro, Lancaster City Bureau of Fire and BCCC instructor, taught the two-day course and has been teaching rope rescue for more than five years.
“Firefighters may encounter a variety of situations requiring rope for access and rescue of personnel stranded above grade, below grade, hanging from a fall protection system, etc.,” said Shapiro. “The purpose of this course is to provide these firefighters with the skills needed for successful rope rescue operations.”
Speaking to this specific course and the firefighters involved, Shapiro stated, “All of the firefighters in the class were engaged in the learning process, embraced alternative methodologies and most importantly – had fun while they learned.”
| Date Taken: | 10.07.2024 |
| Date Posted: | 10.07.2024 11:31 |
| Story ID: | 482642 |
| Location: | CHAMBERSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, US |
| Web Views: | 34 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
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