EMFD Ladder Company #1 Participates in Vehicle Extrication Training

Members of the East Meadow Fire Department’s Ladder Company #1 recently participated in a live, hands-on training in vehicle extrication, the process by which rescuers free motorists who may have been entrapped in a car or truck as the result of a motor vehicle accident. In addition to Ladder Company #1 personnel, member from the EMFD Junior Fire Company, "Explorer Post 610” also attended the training.

The training provided instruction for rescue personnel that included situational assessment, patient access, proper choice of tools and other safety-related issues. Rescuers use a variety of tools used to free victims from accidents including pry bars and hacksaws, and heavy-duty hydraulic tools, such as the Jaws of Life. Vehicle extrication is one several jobs performed by a fire department’s ladder, or truck company. Other functions may include performing ventilation and overhaul at structure fires, search and rescue, forcible entry, and heavy rescue functions.

Vehicle extrication is one of a variety of instructional training programs that East Meadow’s volunteer firefighters and emergency medical technicians undertake on an ongoing basis in preparation for the vital services they perform for the community. The free training provided by the EMFD helps sharpen the proficiency of the volunteers, while emphasizing safety. An additional benefit of the instruction includes teaching the kinds of skills that may prove valuable for a paid career in the emergency services field. Several EMFD volunteers are also employed by a number of public safety organizations, including the Nassau County and New York City police departments, and the FDNY,

The East Meadow Fire Department, which covers East Meadow and parts of Levittown and Westbury (Salisbury), is always looking for new members to join their ranks as firefighters or emergency medical personnel; no experience is necessary. The fire department provides the training required. There are numerous benefits associated with volunteering, including tax breaks, college scholarships, annual health checkups, life insurance, and a service award pension program, all at no cost. For more information on volunteering with the East Meadow Fire Department, visit www.eastmeadowfd.com, or call 516-542-4565.