Woods Harbour Fire Department wrangles fourth at extrication symposium

During the first weekend in August, this scenario happened again and again in Windsor at the Atlantic Region Vehicle Extrication Learning Symposium.

The Woods Harbour Fire Department participated in the event with two teams and placed fourth out of 13. The Island and Barrington Fire Department also competed.

President Troy Stoddard says his firefighters view the competition as an excellent chance to improve their technique.

“That’s what we go for, the learning experience,” he said.

Heavy equipment manipulates vehicles and partially flattens them prior to the exercise. A volunteer victim crawls into place and the team of six, which includes a medic, goes into action.

The patient wears protective gear and is in radio contact with a monitor during the extrication

“We go around, look at the situation and come up with a plan on the best way to get the patient out,” said Stoddard.

The Woods Harbour team practiced for three months behind their fire station prior to the event.

“Last year we were last, so we’ve had a big improvement over last year,” said Stoddard.