When Barrow County Emergency Services’ extrication tools came to the end of their service life recently, they were replaced with updated tools with the help of an Assistance to Firefighters Grant. The older tools were still functional but had come to the end of their life cycle for use on emergency incidents.
Although the tools had been removed from service for emergency work, they were still operational and safe for use in instruction and for training purposes. Lanier Technical College’s Fire Science program was not far down the road, and in need of tools to train students in the art and science of vehicle extrication. With a few phone calls, a plan was in place to donate some of the used tools to the school.
The Barrow County Board of Commissioners approved the donation of one set of extrication tools to the school. The value of the equipment donated was over $19,000 and included hydraulic power plants, hoses, “cutters”, “spreaders”, and rams.
“We’ve developed a great relationship with Lanier Technical Institute,” says Capt. Brett Skinner, Training Captain for Barrow County Fire Rescue. “We serve as a training site for their EMT students, and their fire science students occasionally train at the BCES burn building with our recruits. In turn, we have access to recruit students as potential future employees. We’re happy to nurture this relationship that is mutually beneficial to both organizations.”
“We were pleased to be able to donate our used tools to the fire science students. This gift will enhance the student’s experience by allowing them to train with the actual types of tools they will see in the field when they get jobs in the fire service,” said Interim Chief Alan Shuman.
