Four members of Haddam Volunteer Fire Company participated in a 12-hour Hurst Qualification Program Oct. 10-11, 2015. The program included classroom instruction and hands-on exercises. Trainees received lessons on extrication scene safety, how to safely operate Hurst and extrication equipment; vehicle stabilization (using chains, cribbing and jacks); securing a vehicle (air bag safety, glass removal, disconnecting batteries, chocking tires); and lifting and cutting techniques. Trainees learned how to properly pop doors, cut glass and remove roofs in order to remove accident victims from a vehicle. (Photo by Olivia Drake)
On Nov. 23, 2015 members of Haddam Volunteer Fire Company participated in a SCBA (self-contained breathing apparatus) exercise. All interior firefighters are required to take quarterly SCBA refreshers to keep their interior firefighting status. During the drill, firefighters crawled down a dark hall, over an obstacle that resembled floor joists in a ceiling, and searched a room. They concluded the drill with a low-profile exercise. Firefighters and members of Haddam Fire’s Junior Division then cleaned SCBA and refilled air tanks. (Photo by Olivia Drake)
