FORT DRUM, N.Y. (Nov. 10, 2016) -- Red lights flashed along the side of a Town of Watertown Fire Department truck. The sound of an approaching UH-60 Black Hawk helicopter echoed in the distance. Firefighters emptied out of the fire station and into the chilly fall morning.
A large red and white cross painted on the side of the aircraft became visible as it prepared to land. Leaves whipped frantically through the air as the helicopter made contact with the ground and its door swung open.
A medevac training was about to begin.
Aviators from C Company, 3rd General Support Aviation Battalion, 10th Aviation Regiment, 10th Combat Aviation Brigade, put on the training for the Town of Watertown Fire Department in Watertown on Nov. 5 to improve safety and efficiency in case of a real emergency in the future.
"We're starting with the Town of Watertown Fire Department, but eventually we're going to expand it out to Black River, Evans Mills, Calcium and a few other locations," said Staff Sgt. Mark A. Dickey, a flight paramedic and platoon sergeant with C Company, 3-10 GSAB. "One day, we could have a major event, and we may need to work with these local agencies so, in order to ensure that there is good interoperability and cooperability between us, we do this training."
The morning began with the aircrew giving firefighters a general tour of the helicopter.
Dickey explained the importance of safety when walking around outside or assisting inside the aircraft. On the outside, blades may bend dangerously close to those standing on the ground. Inside, measures need to be taken to safely secure or unload a patient.
Next, Sgt. 1st Class Garrick Morgenweck, a flight paramedic and platoon sergeant with C Company, 3-10 GSAB, fielded the group's questions about procedures. He also taught them hand signals that the aircrew might use to communicate from a distance.
With a solid base of knowledge developed, the firefighters began practicing how to load and unload a patient while the aircraft was off.
After a few successful attempts with an empty litter, they moved on to carrying a mock patient.
For the final stage of training, the aircraft was powered on. With the full sound and force of the helicopter's blades turning, the firefighters quickly loaded and unloaded the mock patient with ease.
The day's training had come to an end, but officials from the Town of Watertown Fire Department still had praise to give for the opportunity.
"It's great, because we don't get to do this every day, and there are different people that may be on or off whenever there is an actual emergency," said Bill Bamann, a fire captain with the Town of Watertown Fire Department. "It's always good to have training whenever we can get it, and it's a good refresher because things can change."
Similar training opportunities with other neighboring Fort Drum communities are slated for the future.
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