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By: Erin Smith
Bladen County EMS personnel and Bladen County Emergency Management were busy Tuesday morning at the Curtis Brown Jr. Field in Elizabethtown honing their driving skills.
Instructor Gary Turlington said the course consisted of precision driving, offset lane maneuver, and precision backing.
Barry Pait said the drivers were working on backing skills and avoidance skills.
“We’re just trying to teach them what their vehicles will do and won’t do,” said Pait.
“These guys are first responders and it gives them the opportunity to practice in close quarters where the damage here is running over a cone,” said Turlington.
The airport allowed the use of the taxiway for the course. Turlington said a notice was filed with the FFA to make air traffic aware of the training that is taking place there. However, the airport remains open to air traffic.
Folks enrolled for the course through Bladen Community College.
Bladen County Emergency Management Director Bradley Kinlaw said, “What a great experience it has been to get out of the classroom and get some hands on experience. We get a lot of driving experience but not like this.”
He added, “We appreciate the sheriffs office and colleges for putting this together for us. Everybody did a great job.”
Bladen County EMS Chief David Howell said, “I thought it was very good training to allow the supervisors to get familiar with their vehicle for emergency response. My plan is to let my other paramedics do this course in the future.”
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