Firefighter cadets participate in an extrication training session under a program operated by the Manistee County Firefighter's Association.

Firefighter cadets representing a number of local volunteer fire departments take part in extrication training.

Firefighter cadets must be careful around things like seatbelts and airbags which can further injure those being extricated from their vehicle.

Extrication equipment is used to remove vehicles from around potentially injured motorists and their passengers after a collision.

Firefighters gather around a salvage vehicle during their extrication training session on Saturday.

A firefighter cadet loudly announces their entry into the vehicle before breaking one of its windows.

WELLSTON – Training that took place Saturday could mean the difference between life or death if you are in an auto crash in Manistee County.

Cadet firefighters took part in auto extrication training at Wellston Lube & Repair in Norman Township  – one of the final steps in receiving their firefighting certificates.

Auto extrication is the process of removing a vehicle from around a person who has been involved in a collision, when conventional means of exit are either impossible or inadvisable. 

A delicate approach is needed to minimize the risk of injury during the extraction. This process is accomplished by utilizing various rescue tools, including chocks and bracing for stabilization and hydraulic tools such as the Jaws of Life. 

Around 20 cadets, representing fire departments from across Manistee County and beyond, practiced these techniques on salvaged vehicles under the instruction and supervision of experienced firefighters.

This includes Norman Township fire chief, Jack VanderBie. 

Norman Township saw nine serious collisions in 2021 – five of which required extrication by firefighters. The cadets, VanderBie says, will need to be able to respond competently to situations like these when they occur. 

“Obviously the first thing that goes through everybody's mind is safety – life safety,” VanderBie said. “Typically we'll have somebody get in a car with the patient. It’s loud. The car moves around a lot. … the patient could be screaming … so you have to be able to deal with the adrenaline.”

Keeping a cool head under pressure is key, says VanderBie, but so is speed. 

“You gotta hurry because you have what's called the golden hour to get the patient out of the car and get them underway to a hospital for treatment,” he told the News Advocate. “You’ve got to be able to adapt, improvise and overcome.”

The golden hour is a term used that often refers to the hour after a trauma, where responders must get patients their needed care before serious complications occur.

“Anything after an hour, their chances of survival – if it's a serious accident – go down considerably,” he said.

Life saving decisions must be made by these volunteers at a moment’s notice and often under difficult circumstances, according to VanderBie.

“... you might be on your bed sound asleep, and the pager goes off at whatever time of the night and … we’ve got an accident that we need to respond to,” he said. “Sometimes you don't have all of the information in hand until you actually get on scene, and then you need to quickly assess what's going on and assess to make sure it's safe.”

The extrication training is part of a certification course operated by the Manistee County Firefighter’s Association. The current class of cadets have been in training since before the start of 2022, and have logged roughly 200 hours, according to VanderBie. 

When the program concludes in early summer, the cadets will be government certified volunteer firefighters – something VanderBie says is desperately needed in Manistee County.

“The majority of all of our area, the fire departments are in need of fire and medical personnel,” he said. “It’s a nationwide thing going on – everybody is experiencing a shortage of manpower, so that’s kind of scary sometimes.”

Those interested in joining a future class of cadets are encouraged to reach out to their local fire department, VanderBie said. 

“They’ll go through and start learning some basics on training with your department … and then get signed up for the academy,” he said, adding that any cadet firefighter should “be prepared for a huge commitment.”

I grew up in Genesee County and received a Bachelor of Arts from U of M. I am a hobbyist fish keeper who enjoys stargazing and bird watching.