VIDEO: Airdrie Fire Department unveils new life-saving equipment

Thanks to Tracy Osborne, the Airdrie Fire Department (AFD) was able to purchase an Internal Simulation (SIM) Lab to help provide realistic skill development for Airdrie firefighters. On Friday, December 16, the Airdrie Fire Department was able to show off its new training gear.

Garth Rabel, Deputy Fire Chief with the Airdrie Fire Department talked about what they are able to do with this new training gear.

"It provides opportunities for our firefighters, to interact with very lifelike mannequins, training adjuncts, and equipment, so they can really take their skills to the next level as far as evaluation and application. [This helps them to] be better prepared in the field when they meet these types of scenarios."

Rabel mentioned this lab covers everything right from birth.

"There's a birthing simulator, then it goes up through the cycles of life and then into children. There's a full-body neonatal simulator, a full-body child simulator, and then it goes right up to our very modern adult training simulator mannequin."

Watch the video below to see the equipment and watch some demonstrations of how the equipment is to be used and members of Airdrie's council learning how to save lives!

Having this equipment allows Airdrie firefighters to train in Airdrie instead of travelling to other parts of the province to meet their certification.

"We ensure that we're ready to meet the needs of the community, should they call us."

This training will take place on a regular basis. Rabel wants to once again thank Osborne for her generous donation as medical calls are a large part of the AFD annual call volume.

For Osborne, it fills her heart to see her vision come to fruition.

"The opening of the new medical SIM lab is huge. I think it could comfort all Airdronians knowing that the fire department has been training with new equipment [and] it lightens the burden on our own local EMS when they're not able to get there on time."

Although she originally wanted to buy a state-of-the-art ambulance for Airdrie, Alerta Health Services (AHS) said that would not be happening. Osborne went to Airdrie city council to come up with the idea of purchasing the SIM lab for AFD.

"Today's all about them [Airdrie's firefighters] because they've done extensive training. They'll be there to provide comfort and hope to anybody in those in those bad scenarios."