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Friday, 04 September 2009 14:33 |
Cowpens firefighters recently spent three days participating in a training event intended to improve their abilities in locating a missing or lost person. The class, titled "Managing the Lost Person Incident" was delivered by Trey Smith of Rescue North Carolina. Day one of the training included a lecture of the 12 Step Process to Managing a Lost Person Incident. Day two consisted of various skills used in these type incidents. Some of the skills included reading and understanding various types of maps, uses of a compass for land navigation, and behavioral predictability of lost or missing persons. A compass navigation course was set up and ran outside the fire station, and day two ended with a table top scenario simulating a missing child incident. Day three consisted of a full scale scenario, in which a simulated medical patient had wandered from home. A command post was established, and personnel began the long task of canvassing the area looking for the victim. Several wooded areas had to be searched, along with properties around residences and businesses. Crews also spent time interviewing those persons whom may have last seen the victim. The training scenario ended approximately three hours later, when the victim was located, treated, and removed from her location on a vacant playground. To improve their capabilities, Cowpens firefighters worked along side members from Converse and Goucher White Plains firefighters. All involved were in strong agreement that the training was very beneficial, and plans are underway to improve their capabilities in this area.
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