Rescue, fire, police team up to offer open house
By Jim Smedley
Staff Writer

WEST PARIS – Tri-Town Rescue Service and a group of other medical, fire and health organizations want to let people know what they do.

And, they are even going to feed people who want to find out.

The rescue service has scheduled an open house for Sunday that will offer a CPR demonstration, a 911 clinic for kids, a search and rescue demonstration and a vehicle extraction demonstration.

“We want people to see what EMS and fire services do and the equipment we use,” said Stan Larson, assistant chief Tri-Town Rescue. “We’ll also be talking about preventative measures, so we do not have to be called.”

He said the day would start with a CPR demonstration and presentation from the LifeFlight 2 ground crew. Then the LifeFlight helicopter will arrive. It is one of two medical evacuation helicopters in the LifeFlight fleet.

A 911 clinic for kids, presented by the dispatchers of the Oxford County Sheriff’s Office, would be held just before lunch.

“The clinic gives kids an idea of questions a dispatcher would ask them in an emergency situation and how to answer them,” Larson said.

Larson said refreshments, salads and burgers will be available between noon and 1 p.m., courtesy of the Tri-Town Rescue Auxiliary.

In the afternoon, there will be a vehicle extraction demonstration, another 911 clinic for kids, a search and rescue demonstration, and a CPR demonstration.

Other activities include:

• Child safety seat checks all day long.

• McGruff the Crime Dog.

• DARE program representatives.

• Ambulance tours all day.

• Sparky and the Norway Smoke House.

• Firefighter Friend Program.

• Free blood pressure checks all week.

Larson said the firefighter friend program was created to help children become acclimated to the gear firefighters wear, so they would not be scared in rescue situations.

The smoke house teaches kids how to react and escape in a smoky house.

Larson said a CPR course would be offered on Monday and Wednesday nights from 5 to 9 p.m. for $35. He said the cost was just enough to cover books, cards and other materials.

Other than those already named, participants in the open house are: Bethel Rescue, Med-Care Ambulance, PACE, West Paris Fire Department, Paris Fire Department, Maine State Police, Community Concepts, REACH, Western Maine Health and Health Oxford Hills.

For more information on any of the activities, call Tri-Town Rescue at 674-2400.