Fairgrounds to be center of large rescue training on Saturday

If you are near the Bartholomew County 4-H Fairground this weekend, you will be seeing a lot of emergency workers. But Columbus Township firefighters say that it will all be part of a training exercise.

Columbus Township Fire Chief Dave Thompson explains that the three-day trauma camp will be going on Friday through Sunday, with most of the real-looking exercise going on Saturday after 5 p.m.

You will see many fire trucks, police and the IU Lifeline helicopter Saturday’s activities, Thompson says.

However, the exact details of the exercise remain under wraps.

Thompson said that fire departments from throughout Indiana and as far as Kentucky have attended in the past. Those contingents have been as large as a entire department or as small as a single firefighter.

Firefighters need hours of continuing education training each year, and the trauma camp was created to help fulfill those goals, he said. The camp, which combines classroom training with the hands-on events, is meant to educate firefighters of all experience levels.

The fire department is still seeking about 100 volunteers to serve as victims for Saturday’s activities. Many will be wearing makeup simulating realistic-looking injuries. That technique is called moulage.

To take part, you will need to arrive at the fairgrounds at about 3 p.m. for the makeup to be applied. You should be done by about 7:30 p.m. Thompson said.

You can reach the department through their Facebook page or their website.