Genesis Rescue Systems has provided extrication equipment valued at more than $23,000 to be used the Riverland Community College Fire Training Department. The Riverland Fire Training Department, part of Riverland Training and Development (RTD) is a leader in extrication training for firefighters throughout the state.
Riverland's Fire Training department provides a number of extrication training courses including 21st Century Extrication, Auto Extrication - Basic/Advanced, Farm Accident Rescue, School Bus Rescue and Truck Extrication.
Clarey's Safety Equipment, Inc. in Rochester has been lending extrication equipment to Riverland for the last few years.
"We are grateful to Clarey's Safety Equipment, Inc. for their generosity," said Brian Staska, Riverland fire training coordinator. "This support from Genesis Rescue Systems allows Riverland Fire Training to, now, house and use the equipment at our discretion."
"It is important for Genesis Rescue Systems to assist Riverland in this vital training," said Brent Soland regional sales manager for Genesis Rescue Systems. "We want to get the equipment in the hands of the firefighters so they can become better skilled at cutting the cars away from the victims involved in motor vehicle accidents."
Genesis plans to rotate the equipment on a yearly basis to ensure up-to-date equipment is being used for training.
"Because the equipment will be used for training, it will actually get more use than the equipment housed in most fire stations," said Soland.
The equipment includes a simo pump, a spreader, a cutter, extension hoses, ram and ram-push-pull kits and other tools valued at more than $23,000.
"Having our own tools will not only save the college a lot of time and money it puts a very powerful tool in the hands of those needing it the most - the firefighters of Minnesota," said Staska. "Riverland teaches hundreds of firefighters the latest extrication techniques. This knowledge helps the firefighters perform extrications faster and safer."
Riverland Community College's fire training department, part of the Riverland Training and Development division, provides service for law enforcement, EMS providers and firefighters in an 11-county area in southeast Minnesota including Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Goodhue, Houston, Mower, Olmsted, Rice, Steele, Wabasha, Winona.
Riverland Training and Development, a department of Riverland Community College, is a resource for business and industry offering solutions for improving performance through customized training, consultation, DACUM facilitation and program development. Annually, Riverland Training and Development works with more than 600 companies and organizations across the region, serving more than 5,600 employees. More information about Riverland Training and Development may be found on the Internet at www.riverland.edu/rtd.
Riverland Community College, a member of the Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system, is a regional comprehensive community college inspiring learning for living through a personalized educational environment. Approximately 4,000 students are served, annually, through a wide range of credit-based educational opportunities. An additional 5,600 students are annually served in non-credit courses. Facilities are located in Albert Lea, Austin, and Owatonna, Minn. Riverland may be found on the Internet at www.riverland.edu.
The Minnesota State Colleges and Universities system comprises 32 state universities and community and technical colleges serving the higher education needs of Minnesota. The system serves about 240,000 students per year in credit-based courses and an additional 130,000 students in non-credit courses.
