I had a great Saturday (except for little bout with heat exhaustion/dehydration for about 30 minutes-another story) and Monday working with kids from allover the US in a national camp with Go-First, Go-First an international organization design to get kids ages 11-18 involved with first responders in hopes of stimulating interest to become first responders themselves.

On Saturday we had the opportunity to work with them at Harper’s Ferry National Park where we set up 3 stations: Stokes basket/patient packaging, lowering/raising systems and anchoring. I had the Stokes litter/patient packaging station and set up a minimal anchoring system.

The plan was to take them after lunch to Maryland Heights to practice rescue scenarios, but due to the heat (upper 90’s with high humidity/heat index 100+) it was decide to let the kids go tubing down the Potomac.

Yesterday, Monday we meet the group at Great Falls and split them into two groups, one group went for swiftwater training, while we took the other group rappelling (actual we lowered them) down an 80ft+ cliff. Once everyone who wanted to, took part in each activity we switch groups. And while they did take part in a high ropes course at Gallaudet University on Friday afternoon, I was amazed (although I shouldn’t have been) at the courage these young people displayed, many having never been near, no less rappelling/being lowered over a cliff of that height.

If you would like to read about the event, here is a link to the news article Frederick News Post Article and if you look to the right of the page under multimedia, there is a slide show (hit "local Firefighters..." not the word "slideshow". Number 1, 6 & 7 are from Gallaudet University, #5 is at the tubing outfitter and # 2, 3 and 4 are with us at Harper’s Ferry National Park. #2 shows our team leader demonstrating mechanical advantage systems, # 3 is the Stokes basket/patient packaging station and #5 shows 5 kids pulling on a minimal anchoring system using only clumps of grass and pinky sized saplings.

The kids also went to USCG Station Annapolis, Dulles Airport (Fire/Rescue/Police- included live fire with weapons at the firing range), kayaking at Ft. Washington Park and one of the Smithsonian museums.

Pete