Teller County first responders team up for victim extrication drills

GREEN MOUNTAIN FALLS, Colo. (KRDO) -- Saturday morning, Ute Pass Ambulance and the Green Mountain Falls Fire Department gathered in Green Mountain Falls to run victim extrication drills.

During the training, the two agencies practiced their response for rescuing victims trapped in ambulances or cars. Because Ambulances are constructed differently than cars, hands-on extrication training is especially important for the Fire Department. According to the Paramedic captain, Ambulances also collapse differently, requiring different extraction techniques.

Community Paramedic Director James McLaughlin said this training is vital because "collaboration between paramedics and firefighters can be the difference between life and death."

So the training they completed on Saturday morning was more than just cutting cars and ambulances open - it was two emergency responder teams learning how to work together seamlessly in the event of a serious accident.

McLaughlin said the training aimed to decrease the number of traffic accidents that end in injuries or fatalities.