THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1994, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Friday, September 9, 1994 TAG: 9409070154
SECTION: VIRGINIA BEACH BEACON PAGE: 08B EDITION: BAYSIDE
SOURCE: BY HEIDI GLICK, CORRESPONDENT
LENGTH: Medium: 57 lines
About 50 people huddled around a beat up beige car and watched as rescue workers, dressed in full gear, took off the car's doors, pulled back its roof and inserted a ``jaws of life'' tool in the passenger seat.
Then . . . the audience clapped.
This procedure, used to rescue accident victims from their cars, was one of many demonstrations that volunteers from the Davis Corner Rescue Squad and Fire Station performed for the community Sunday.
The organization held an open house to show off their equipment, host demonstrations, entertain children and answer questions about their services.
``It's our way of saying thanks,'' said Dianne Bradfield, second vice president for rescue, in explaining that the volunteer unit depends on donations to buy equipment and maintain services.
For instance, a beverage company recently donated a truck to the station. Staff members converted it into a mass casualty incident truck.
Hosting the open house, Bradfield added, lets the community see how their donations are spent. It also gives them a chance to meet local rescue personnel, fire fighters and police officers and learn a little bit about their work.
After the car demonstration, master police officers and canine handlers, W.J. Cowan and T.E. Bishop, brought out a police dog. When given one signal, the dog attacked Cowan's shielded arm. But the dog instantly released after the officer gave another command.
Tina LaBrot, who lives near the station, said the canine demonstration was a favorite for her son, Travis. Her daughter, Julie, 8, preferred sitting in the ambulance. ``I did the siren,'' the girl said and smiled.
LaBrot said she got a flier in the mail advertising the open house and thought it would be a neat event and a good education for her children.
Nearby, a rescue worker supervised youngsters as they took turns petting a Dalmatian.
``Why do they use Dalmatians?'' asked Sandra Burfield. She is studying to be a medical assistant and eventually wants to be a paramedic.
Dalmatians, answered the worker, were used traditionally because the dogs have strong jaws to carry water buckets.
Burfield said she and her daughters, Mandy and April, were driving to the store to buy eggs when they noticed the open house signs at the station.
``My daughters always wanted to visit the fire station,'' she said.
So the three of them stopped for a tour. The girls immediately wanted to pet the police horses. Burfield, on the other hand, took the opportunity to get some applications and research more about rescue work. ILLUSTRATION: Photo by HEIDI GLICK
Part of Master Police Officer J.A. Jenkins' job at a drug awareness
booth was to give coloring books designed to prevent drug abuse to
children.
by CNB