Day three we started off with our rope rescue class. By 8 o’clock firefighters from Santiago Atitlan and San Juan converged on our station ready to learn the basic ins and outs of rope rescue. Class began by classroom instruction on basic knots needed for the day. We then moved to a rotation station mode for instruction on belay lines to lower rescuers, basic anchors and how to secure a patient to a stokes litter for extrication. Then we brought each of the students together and demonstrated how to put together the 3:1 mechanical advantage rope system.
The weather held up well during this portion. Many sunburns were attained during this section of the class.
The BRAVE Foundation provided lunch for each of the instructors and students. Following lunch we relocated up to a mountain road to place all the components together in a few basic scenarios.
After arriving at our location, two stations were set up. On to work on lowering a rescuer with a figure of eight plate and another to lower rescuers to a victim with a brake bar rack and raise with the 3:1 system. We were able to perform 3 separate scenarios placing different firefighters in the different positions to experience the rescue with different perspective and experience.
Again the weather held out until the completion of the course. As we began putting away the equipment the rain started. And not just a little bit of rain; essentially we were hit by a torrential downfall of rain.
During this rain, Adam Rosenlund and Brian Schleicher took advantage of the weather and went swimming in the lake. It is an incredible experience to be in a jungle mountain lake like Atitlan during such rainfall.
Day four found us traveling the local towns attempting to purchase various pieces of equipment to finalize the details on the AV training system. We were unable to locate any of the cables we needed but were able to find a perfect cabinet to house all the equipment. We also began painting different areas of the station.
Day five we continued our painting projects. Finishing the border trim around the station. It also held the first driving class for Paulina. Paulina, one of the full time staff of the station has never learned to drive. Adam Rosenlund took her out for her first driving class. Driving was slow and essentially stopped anytime another vehicle came by the ambulance. San Juan is a very hilly town and there is little to no flat open areas to learn the basic driving practices. Paulina did well and may well soon drive faster than 5 mph.
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