The Galesville Area Fire Dept. finished several hours of the WWTC Fire Rescue class, presented by John Olshanski, instructor and member of the La Crosse Fire Dept., who provided information of how to utilize manpower and tools to the best advantage when called to an accident scene.

Olshanski told the Galesville men he would show them how to shave several minutes from their timing of 58 minutes to remove an accident victim from a vehicle. By using power tools and hand tools in conjunction the men learned to work as a unit, stabilize a vehicle, prepare for extrication and safety of the victim, plus use safety methods to protect themselves. Olshanski said, "A car at 0 mph can kill a rescue worker if he doesn’t know what he’s doing." He added that as a fireman he will do what he has to do but doesn’t consider losing his life as part of the bargain.

The class provides the means with knowledge about tools and techniques, guidelines for rescue, cutting down that "golden hour" of rescue time, and understanding life-saving techniques. Olshanski said just having Jaws of Life doesn’t mean your department has enough equipment. He said, "you will come to appreciate all these tools" as he showed the men the hand tools they would be using to complement the power tools. He pointed out that if another fire department without the Jaws called for aid, the first department could be stabilizing the car and using hand tools before the Galesville Dept. arrives, again cutting down on that Golden Hour.

Butch Vaughn, fire chief, said the training was excellent and his only regret is that more people didn’t take advantage of the class. Shawn Giffin, a Galesville fireman, said he didn’t realize there was so much to learn and credited Olshanski with developing a great course that was not just hearing what to do but actually doing it.

Several junked cars were used for the demonstration and training but Olshanski said they are always in need of great many more. The Second Annual Great Lakes Extrication Competition and Learning Symposium will be held Sept. 10 and 12 in Trempealeau. They will need many vehicles for that event. Anyone who would like to donate a vehicle for the Extrication Competition is encouraged to do so. Cars are continually needed for more training and if there’s a junked car in someone’s back yard and they don’t know what to do with it, Olshanski said, "give it to us." The school does have tax deduction papers for those who donate vehicles.

A three-car accident was the first introduction for Galesville firemen to use the rescue training they had just learned in June.

Two people, Olivia Schwertel of Trempealeau, and Shirley Brown of Hawaii, died in a three-car accident one-tenth of a mile north of Galesville on June 30. Two others, John Kaio, La Crosse, and Don Severson of Galesville, were hospitalized and a third person, Barbara Mathias of Hawaii, was treated and released that same night.

Harold "Butch" Vaught, Galesville Area Fire Dept. fire chief, credits the quick and efficient extrication of the injured people by the fire dept. to the rescue training the department just finished. Vaughn said he was very pleased with the work and cooperation his men showed while using the Jaws of Life and accompanying tools that improved their timing and safety measures.

"I was grateful that we had this training," Vaughn said, "so much of what we learned is what we had to use. It wasn’t one guy with the Jaws, it was a team effort and we all worked." Vaughn added he called the Trempealeau Fire Dept. for back up, as he was trained to do, but did not have to use their men or equipment. He said it was good to know help was there if it was needed.

Severson, who was hospitalized until Sat. July 3^rd, said all the rescue workers did a great job. He added he is glad he was wearing his seat belt and believes it saved him from extensive injuries or from being killed. Severson said he had just retired from his job at Trane Co, that very day and had never been in an accident all the years he drove back and forth to La Crosse.

John Olshanski, WWTC rescue instructor, said he was going to Trempealeau when he heard sirens and saw the ambulances heading north. He said he thought to himself, "It must have been a bad one." He had trained both the Trempealeau and Galesville fire departments to use many more tools and techniques for extrication and hoped these departments would be in charge of this accident.

Later he heard from Howie Mahlum, one of the WWTC instructors who helped teach the Galesville class, that a Galesville fireman called him to say "thanks for what we learned." Mahlum said the fireman was grateful they had the knowledge of how to proceed with caution and safety yet reduce the extrication time.