Around 25 people attended a special training class Monday night, July 14, at Jena Metals in Jena, as various emergency response personnel worked on vehicle extraction in preparation for emergencies.

Jena Fire Chief Josh Corley organized the training as part of Hardtner Medical Center’s EMT (Emergency Medical Technician) class that is set to conduct graduation this Friday night.

“The class was primarily for the EMT class to show them what it looks like to extricate someone out of a vehicle with various rescue tools,” Chief Corley said.

The Jena Fire Department, which operates one of the parish’s rescue units, has several of its members in the current EMT class and other members were recently certified through last fall’s EMR (Emergency Medical Responder) class.

Still, others in the class had never seen the extraction equipment work or how to safely remove people who are trapped inside a wrecked vehicle.

“They were taught how to properly remove someone from a vehicle and how to keep them safe while the tools are being used to get them out,” he said. “They also learned some of the challenges and dangers associated with new vehicles.”

Along with seeing hydraulic and battery- operated rescue tools, they also witnessed the deployment of airbags to show them the force that is behind this life-saving vehicle feature.

Joining members of the Jena Fire Department and the EMT students, were members of the Hardtner Medical Center EMS and LaSalle Parish Sheriff Lane Windham.

Corley thanked everyone who had a part in making the class successful, including Jena Metals who provided the vehicles to be cut up as part of the training.

“All of this work is done to help save lives,” he said. “Right now, we are in one of the best positions we’ve been in regarding emergency response. The bottom line is, we do all this to help save lives.”

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