Cobourg Fire Department Taught “Priceless” Auto Extrication Training

Pete Fisher
2 years ago
• Categories: Editor Choice, Local, Photo Gallery

Members of the Cobourg Fire Department took apart a number of vehicles over the course of four days practising auto-extrication at Chadwick’s Towing and Repair on Veronica Street in Cobourg.

Peter Methner who is President of On-Scene Rescue Training based out of Niagara Falls held the four-day training session starting on Thursday, June 23, 2022.

All types of vehicles, buses and transports were used in the training of all members of the fire department.

With new types of vehicles being on the roads, it’s important for the rescuers to be updated on safe extrication of any patients.

Methner said the most important goals in auto extrication are the safety of the rescuers and the victims, utilizing your tools properly and working as a team.

“There is a whole gamut of things we focus on. Some of it’s even choreographed.”

With each rescuer in charge of rescue tools, Methner said the timing has to be precise when each tool is brought into the scene.

With that in mind, Methner said the goal is to bring the extrication time of any patient down to eight-minutes from the removal of a vehicle.

“No matter what the scenario.”

“We read the accident as we arrive on scene.”

The commanding officer formulates and plan and communicates it to the rescuers.

If the commanding officer tells us to remove the side or roof from the vehicle, the rescuers initiate the plan to do that.

“All based on patient condition. We like to converse with the medics. Because we would like that information to know whether it is going to become a rapid extrication or not. At that time we will determine what our game plan will be collectively.”

On Friday, different scenarios were used with utilizing different extrication equipment.

Methner said Friday’s scenarios went “fabulous.”

The new firefighters Cobourg has are “willing and eager to learn along with some of the older fellas who are also learning a lot of new tricks.”

Methner said he often hears veteran firefighters say, “that’s not the way we used to do things, but I like the way things are changing.”

Cobourg firefighter Sorab Bulsara said the training received was “priceless.”

“Chadwick’s Towing is super generous to give us this whole property, donated vehicles, trailer for us to train on.”

With the entire department getting hands on training, Bulsara said, “the more we can do this, the better we can be at our job.”