Firefighting Students Undergo Mayday Training

Back to HomePage
Updated: 8:10 PM Sep 27, 2011 Firefighting Students Undergo Mayday Training Ten students in the Firefighting I class at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Technical Education Center (CATEC) took part in a mayday training exercise with the Charlottesville Fire Department on Tuesday. Posted: 5:53 PM Sep 27, 2011 Reporter: Carter Johnson Email Address: carter.johnson@newsplex.com

Font Size:

September 27, 2011

Students at the Charlottesville-Albemarle Technical Education Center (CATEC) took part in a mayday training exercise with firefighters on Tuesday. They donned gear and masks that simulated heavy smoke and entered a house specially built for the exercise.

“Hot and scary, very scary,” said Oliver Terrell, a senior at CATEC and one of ten students in the Firefighting I class. “You can't see anything. You're trying to use your senses that you have besides hearing and touching. You're grabbing around trying to touch something, hoping you can get out.”

Charlottesville firefighters, who volunteer to work with the students daily, gave the class four mayday scenarios in the event of a collapse: something falls on top of them; they get hung up in something; they get lost; and they fall through the floor.

“Basically what we're teaching the students to do is how to handle the situation if they get trapped or get stuck,” said Charlottesville Fire Capt. Allen Kuser.

The students responded to the different scenarios and learned how to call for help and what information to give colleagues so they can help bring you to safety.

“LUNAR: your location, your unit, your name, your air supply and what resources you need to get out,” explained Scott Somers, a junior at CATEC.

The class builds to a live, controlled burn exercise at the end of the semester, during which the students will need to rescue a mannequin from the flames. Both Somers and Terrell say the exercises and training are to prepare them for a career in firefighting.

“Both my granddad and my dad are firefighters, so it's definitely a career I want to pursue,” said Somers.

“It's my dream. I want to do something that I'm proud of that makes a difference,” Terrell added.

Latest Comments

Posted by: FF in Va Location: Va on Sep 27, 2011 at 07:53 PM

This stuff is a lot harder than it looks! Keep up the good work guys!

Click here to post or read all 1 comments.