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Guests at yesterday's open house check out an old county ambulance that is now used to train rescue squad crew members.
Arvel P. Shannon, a longtime supporter of the Spotsylvania Volunteer Rescue Squad, cuts the ribbon at the training center named for her.
Six-year-old Aidan Sivart chats with Sue Hampton at the open house for the Arvel P. Shannon Training Center. |
Tom Vickers and Carolyn Marsh remember the old days, when Spotsylvania Volunteer Rescue Squad members didn't have any real space for training.
"We used to pull the units out of the station, mop the floors and put down throw rugs to get space for training," said Vickers, an officer of the squad. "We'd have three different classes happening on top of each other."
Yesterday, with their major benefactor on hand to clip an opening ribbon, the rescue squad officially dedicated a building whose main purpose is training.
It's not a new building, but the former rescue squad building at Spotsylvania Courthouse, now with a totally redone interior designed for emergency medical training.
The squad now operates out of a new joint fire and rescue station on Courthouse Commons Boulevard.
The training center dedicated yesterday has three large classrooms equipped with all the screens, computers and audiovisual connections needed for classes that will include CPR, Emergency Medical Technician certification, advanced lifesaving and other topics.
Marsh, president of the Spotsylvania Volunteer Rescue Squad, said the group is extremely grateful to Arvel P. Shannon, whose continuing donation to the rescue squad made the work possible.
"We've set it aside for several years, with this purpose in mind," said Marsh, who noted that the work cost some $300,000 and took about six months to complete. "Her gracious gift continues and will allow us to do the training we are constantly doing to keep members up to date."
Shannon is the widow of local businessman Sidney Shannon Jr., who owned and operated the Sheraton Hotel and founded Shannon Airport.
As she prepared to officially open the new Arvel P. Shannon Training Center named for her, Shannon said she's proud to be associated with it.
"It feels good to help, especially with something as important to the community as this organization," she said, adding that constant training is an important duty of the squad.
Doug Found, who oversees training for the squad, said it's hard to explain how much easier it will be to offer classes in rooms set up for them.
"It took so much time to set up and clean up after classes before," said Found. "Now, they can leave all the equipment they need for training in the place where it's used."
He noted that some of the squad's training involves breaking into small groups, something dividers in the classrooms make easier by creating up to eight different spaces.
One unique feature of the training center: An old ambulance is set up in a large bay, with its wheels removed and replaced by a wooden support beneath.
"It's equipped the same way our current units are, right down to bandages and backboards," said Vickers. "It allows us to train with exactly what our people will use in the field without tying up one of the units that's in service."
Another touch: a set of stairs going up to a small landing to help volunteers be trained on stair chairs, devices used to get the injured out of buildings with stairways and landings.
"Before, we didn't have a real set of stairs, and we'd just train without them," Vickers said. "Now, we've got a real set to learn on."
Rob Hedelt: 540/374-5415
Email: rhedelt@freelancestar.com
