By A.J. Panian
Tribune-Review (Greensburg, PA)
Copyright 2007 Tribune Review Publishing Company
All Rights Reserved
GREENSBURG, Pa. — Christian Dawson could have been trapped in a dark cave or a dank manhole Sunday in Jeannette as one of 12 volunteers in need of rescue by the Westmoreland County Technical Rescue Team.
The 20-member unit, composed of volunteer firefighters in and out of the county, held one of 12 scheduled simulated confined-space rescue drills for 2007 early yesterday at the city’s EMS Station 206 along South Sixth Street.
The purpose was to prepare the team for scenarios in which their expertise and equipment possibly could save a life, said team chief Chuck Miller.
“A cave will kill you if you don’t know what you’re doing, and there are other emergency scenarios locally where only members of this team have received the proper training how to respond,” said Miller, 31, of Jeannette, a former Army Ranger who has led the team since early 2005.
In one of the exercises, the crew lifted Dawson, a 17-year-old Manor Borough resident and member of Westmoreland City Volunteer Fire Department, out of a low-lit, confined space under the station through a 18-inch by 2-foot opening via a 4-1 mechanical advantage confined space rescue system.
“That’s a tripod with two double pulleys and half-inch rope,” Miller said. “Four men can pull up a 250-pound man, and it only feels like 50 pounds each.”
Since 2005, each active team member must go through about 500 hours of free training via Bucks County Community College, Miller said, including basic rope rigging for rescue, confined space rescue, cave rescue, swift water rescue, silo rescue, cell phone tower rescue, ground search rescue, and emergency medical training.
“Until I took charge, there really wasn’t much focus on training,” said Miller, adding that the team was established in 1985.
The team is in the process of applying for nonprofit status to allow solicitation of state agencies and local foundations for funding to acquire various equipment and insurance coverage. Until now, the group has not had any such access to state funding as do volunteer fire departments.
“All we do is fundraising to make money at this point, and we’re always looking for donations,” Miller said.
Fire departments and other agencies wishing to make equipment donations to the Westmoreland County Technical Rescue Team can call 724-522-1502.