The Trempealeau Area Fire Department "Adopt a Tool" program ended with a demonstration of rescue techniques and a thank-you party for donors and the firemen. Also present was John Olshanski, a Fire Safety and Survival instructor from WWTC and a member of the La Crosse Fire Dept.

Olshanski described emergency scene and rescue training techniques, which he teaches, before the demonstration took place. Firemen are taught how to assess a scene, what tools to use, how to control the situation from extrication and/or emergency medical treatment before First Responders or paramedics are available to controlling bystanders.

Trempealeau firemen demonstrated many of the techniques they learned in training classes while Olshanski explained their actions to several village residents who watched the demonstration on Oct. 19. A car, donated by Roger Losinski of Centerville Salvage, was prepared by smashing the car body, and by using "dummies" as accident victims. The fire units pulled into place with two units supplying lights on the scene. One fireman surrounded the vehicle with red cones, establishing a safe area. Had a hazardous situation for the rescuers, such as a downed power line, the rescuers would have been immediately aware of it, Olshanski pointed out. Another fireman looked under the car and found the child "dummy" and brought it to emergency care. Olshanski said sometimes a victim is not found until a clean-up crew comes along and by the time they call back a rescue squad, the victim dies.

The fireman checked all of the car doors, and found one of the four could be opened. Olshanski said that very often, unless there is a plan the rescuers are trained to follow, firemen may miss the availability of an unlocked door. He said, "They can make the wrong assumption and hamper their own rescue attempts by simply not checking all the doors. The fact is, in an emergency situation if you follow rules you’d been taught, you are not liable to miss the obvious."

In a short time the Trempealeau fireman had cut through the A and B posts on the driver’s and the passengers’ sides, removed the front window, and taken off the driver’s door. In the meantime, another man was inside the car supporting the "victim" in the front seat and taking "his carotoid pulse" (located in the neck) that indicates life or death of the victim, and notes other injury conditions.

It was obvious the men worked as a well-rehearsed team while Olshanski described every movement and reason for it, to the onlookers.

It is this kind of training, Olshanski said, that is vital for every fire department. He said he believes the training helps the men not only be more prepared, but have more confidence in answering an accident call. Olshanski added that the firemen should routinely be called to every accident scene. "If they’re not needed," he said, "they can always go back." But less time is lost by being there right away so accident victims don’t have to wait that extra length of time for the firemen to arrive with rescue equipment to get them out of a vehicle.

Olshanski praised the Trempealeau group and said they are one of the best trained fire departments in the state.

The Trempealeau area Fire Department received about $1200 in the Adopt-A-Tool program but the need for updating and increasing equipment is always present. As Olshanski said, "You wouldn’t want to lose a life because you just needed an extra saw or screwdriver, would you?"

Anyone or group who’d like to donate funds to the Trempealeau Fire Department may do so by contacting Scotty Phillips, Dave Dutton, or Jeff Kirkey.