Cawaco staff were gathered in a classroom with our partners in the Alabama Legislature and a grantee when the room transformed in an instant to a high-stakes scenario.
First responders arrived to find a man collapsed and unconscious. The responders swarmed the man, called out codes, hooked him up to machines, monitored responses on digital devices, and used technology to save their patient.
Luckily, in this case the patient was an AmbuMan.
The group gathered was celebrating that the Mountain Brook Fire Department secured an AmbuMan Advanced training manikin through the RC&D grant program. As the first responders demonstrated, this cutting-edge technology will strengthen clinical training for emergency medical services personnel by enabling hands-on practice in medical and trauma scenarios.
EMS personnel can use real diagnostic equipment and clinical skills to assess the manikin in real time, perform life support interventions, and observe immediate physiological responses. It’s about as close to a real-life simulation as you can get in training.
MBFD plans to host neighboring jurisdictions for group trainings with the manikin, extending impact across the area.
“We are working really hard to raise the bar across the board and learn from each other. We share best practices and we collaborate on a lot of things, and we share a lot of information,” said Jon Head, Battalion Chief Emergency Medical Services with MBFD. “At the end of the day, it’s about taking better care of people. That’s our bottom-line goal.”
In medical emergencies where seconds matter, proper training helps first responders perform life-saving operations quickly and effectively. Proper training starts with the right tools. Cawaco RC&D and our partners with the Alabama Legislature are proud to support first responders by providing tools that help them show up prepared for our communities.
“I am so grateful for the work that the Mountain Brook Fire Department does for our community. You are one of the highest rated fire departments in the state,” said Sen. Dan Roberts. “We’re very proud of that and grateful for the work that you do.”
“This investment in the Mountain Brook Fire Department strengthens the training and readiness of our emergency medical personnel,” said Rep. Jim Carnes. “This new manikin will help ensure our first responders can practice critical life-saving skills. I am also proud that this resource will be shared with neighboring fire departments, which will help improve emergency response across central Alabama.”
“The men and women of the Mountain Brook Fire Department are beloved by the Mountain Brook community,” said Rep. David Faulkner. “Their dedication and service in taking care of the people of our community is exceptional! As elected officials, we are thrilled to support the Mountain Brook Fire Department and so glad they received this Cawaco grant!”
