31 CES firefighters participate in rescue training course

Photo By Tech. Sgt. Areca Wilson | Firefighters from the 31st Civil Engineer Squadron rappel down the side of a building during a Rescue Technician One course at Aviano Air Base, Italy, Aug. 8, 2016. Fourteen Aviano firefighters are participating in the training to learn how to conduct low-angle, high-angle and confined-space rescues. (U.S. Air Force photo by Senior Airman Areca T. Bell)  

AVIANO AIR BASE, ITALY

08.04.2016

Story by Senior Airman Areca Wilson 

31st Fighter Wing

AVIANO AIR BASE, Italy--Firefighters from the 31st Civil Engineer Squadron will participate in Rescue Technician One training to further improve their operational capabilities, from July 25 to Aug. 12, here.

Instructors from the 435th Construction and Training Squadron from Ramstein Air Base, Germany are conducting a 15-day course, which includes classroom and hands-on training on different rescue techniques.

"During the course we are teaching low-angle, high-angle and confined-space rescue," explained Tech. Sgt. Justin Hrusovsky, 435th CTS NCO in charge of fire rescue and contingency training. “By the end of the course the Airmen will know how to maneuver in small spaces, and secure and remove patients during emergencies."

According to Hrusovsky, the course offers information on how to construct systems for rappelling when extracting patients or hauling heavy loads from inaccessible areas.

“Aviano is geographically located near mountains—you never know if you’re going to get called off base to help someone," he explained. "The Air Force also has confined-space missions at almost every base. We teach our students how to access a hole that may be two feet by two feet, crawl around, package the patient and remove them from a small space."

Students have already noted the benefits of the course, though it still in progress.

"This class will help prepare me to do all I can when an incident happens," said Airman Ryan Neuville, 31st CES fire protection apprentice. “If we were are called to assisst victims during an accident, I am confident we will play our part to help each patient."

Each student will have to pass five written tests and 23 performance tests to earn the Rescue Technician One national certification. Once completed, Team Aviano’s firefighters will be better prepared to help the local and Wyvern community in times of emergency.

• Date Taken: 08.04.2016
• Date Posted: 08.04.2016 07:29
• Story ID: 206024
• Location: AVIANO AIR BASE, IT
• Hometown: CHARLESTON, SC, US
• Hometown: LAKE ORION, MI, US