'Training With Rescue Vehicles'

Training With Rescue Vehicles

By Sam Heisin at 06/19/08 06:30

I recently attended a government funded storm drilling workshop. It also hosts a training seminar in case emergency happens. Whenever I attend drills and workshops, you can always expect me to be either 100% attentive or 100% dysfunctional. I mean, I'm the type who will just listen to you while you're speaking as long as you can entertain me and simultaneously informing me of what you know. But I am also the type who would not listen to you if you sound like you know nothing of what you are talking about and you speak not interesting things at all. And that very moment, I'm quite alive and happy that the speakers are pretty good.

During the workshops, we we're asked who can drive a car. Almost all raised their hands including me. Then they asked again who can drive at least two different types of vehicle. Almost half of the previous number dropped, but I still confidently raised my hand. Then they asked again who can operate three types of vehicle and above. I did not raised my hand, and only three people did. It turns out that the 3 types of vehicle they are asking are cars, trucks and helicopters, with an optional driving skill for sea vessels. And those who raised their hands are either working and representatives for the Navy or for the Air Force.

These people were then asked to operate the helicopter that was standing outside the stadium and 20 people, including me, were asked to drive the trucks in sync with the movement of the helicopter.

I'm really not an expert driver, but at the very least, I can drive any type of cars and a few kinds of trucks. I learned how to drive cars at an early age and used to drive the trucks and tractors in my fathers farm.

It was a fun training. I was quite surprised that the organization that held the seminar got so much of these gadgets and vehicles ready when disaster strikes. I got to drive big rescue trucks, fire trucks, ambulance, pick-up trucks, an amphibious truck and even a police car.

The day ended up with us earning ourselves a certificate that certifies we are knowledgeable of handling emergency situations and a badge that will testify we are able to drive emergency vehicles. And take note, those badge are inscribed with: Grade A Driver, a thing I am really proud of.

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