OCEAN CITY, Md. -Â Every 4th Tuesday, all year round, Ocean City firefighters train for real world scenarios. The fire company used unoccupied homes that are fully furnished, and will soon be demolished.
The dual training also includes a medical component. While the Ocean City Fire Department trains regularly at a training facility at the University of Maryland, Tuesday's training is much more realistic and creative.
"We're in a actual house that's in our district. We are able to practice different stairs, how the bedrooms are situated, where the kitchens are located, garage levels, we are able to experience that in a very practical way and allow us to be more efficient in our job as firefighters and EMS providers," said OCFD public information officer, Ryan Whittington.
The training included transitioning from firefighter to EMS provider immediately.
"We went inside put the fire out, we search and located victims, pulled them out and once we pull them out we then go to immediately working on them," said Whittington.
Lt. Eric Borneman was leading the delivery of EMS.
"We have to manage the medical complications that are associated with smoke inhalation, burns to the patient, and other factors that contribute, we work on airway management and pain management, and things like that," said Lt. Borneman.
Firefighters worked on intubating adult and child-sized dummies, using video laryngoscopy.
"We can video and document the airway of what it looks like for our providers in the hospital," he said.
Because fire service around the country and region is short staffed, "we have to have that transition and dual purpose to provide the best service delivery to the citizens we serve and protect," said Whittington.