Safety Lessons Save Lives (Caldwell District)
Contact: Renee Whitener, Director of Public Relations, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation, (828) 758-2383, Ext. 3213; or E-mail: Renee Whitener
LENOIR, NC, (October 28, 2008) — To help ensure the safety of firefighters, other emergency first responders, and the general public, Blue Ridge Electric Membership Corporation and its propane subsidiary Blue Ridge Energies hosted a training program on Monday evening for emergency first responders.
Designed for those who rescue and help protect the public, the training program combined live electric “hot line” and propane emergency demonstrations with video programs and online training tutorials. The training exposed the first responders to common dangers and ways to avoid injury or death from electrocution and other hazards.
“Train the trainer” opportunities were included for fire department captains to provide continuous training opportunities to their staffs beyond the Blue Ridge led program. Each attending department received a customized training kit from Blue Ridge Electric that included: 50 training booklets and brochures; “Look up and Live” decals to remind fire fighters to be aware of overhead power lines; a 20 minute training DVD; safety posters, and a comprehensive training guide for propane emergencies.
According to Robbie Wilkie, Caldwell County fire marshal, this safety training is very much in demand. “I commend Blue Ridge Electric and Blue Ridge Energies for providing not only the training program but making a commitment to help keep our first responders safe today and in the future. Most of our volunteer fire fighters will never get a chance to see real-life demonstrations and I know the positive impact this can have on a new volunteer as well as a seasoned veteran,” Wilkie concluded.
Blue Ridge Electric is a member-owned electric cooperative serving some 73,000 members in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe, Alleghany, Avery, Wilkes and Alexander counties. Blue Ridge Energies is the cooperative’s wholly owned propane and heating fuels subsidiary with offices in Caldwell, Watauga, Ashe and Alleghany counties.
