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[ advertisement ] | Twin Creeks mine rescue competes and learns |
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| Written by Submitted photos |
| Wednesday, August 31 2011 11:00 |
WINNEMUCCA — A bus-vs.-semi crash with mass casualties, a fire, and a rigging rescue made a long weekend for Newmont Mining Corporation’s Twin Creeks Mine Rescue Team. Fortunately, those were just some of the scenarios presented to test the team’s skills at the 31st Annual International Surface Mine Rescue Competition, held over the August 19 weekend in Gillette, Wyoming. Bill Swindle, Emergency Response Coordinator for Twin Creeks, described the competition as educational … and a “great time.” Of the twelve teams competing, the Twin Creeks team came in fifth overall, but placed first in medical response, third in rigging response, and third on the written tests. Swindle credited the first-place medical finish to the training assistance the team received from Humboldt General Hospital EMS. Swindle commented, “Many special thanks to Ken Whittaker and HGH EMS. They spent a lot of time volunteering to help the team with medical scenarios. Their help is one of the reasons we got first place in the medical category.” Swindle did not participate but watched his team at work from the sidelines – a position to which he admitted being unaccustomed. He said that although he was more used to being in the thick of things, being on the sidelines allowed him to observe the team at work. He praised their efficiency, the way they worked together to make a plan and stick to it, and their ability to effectively communicate. Swindle said the team performed much better than their ranking in the competition, but he acknowledged there might have been little things along the way that counted big in the overall tally. The scenarios created for the competition were meant to put the rescue teams to the test. In a confined-space exercise, the team was placed in a darkened room where they had to complete their tasks by touch in order to rescue three “victims.” A rescue rigging scenario required team members to reach the victim, put him into a basket, and then lower him to a small square on the ground, all without running into any of the obstacles on the path between the top and bottom. In the fire scenario, the crew had to establish hoses and put out a fire. For Swindle, the most interesting scenario was a mock accident between a bus and two trucks, with simulated “victims” -- some dead, some walking wounded, and many severely injured, all played by competition participants. The crews had to sort through the victims to determine who would get help first. Remarking on the exercise, Swindle said, “More than anything else, I hope we never have anything like this in our community. But if we do, I’m glad to know we’re prepared.” He also noted if such a disaster were ever to hit the community, all the responders - the Twin Creeks team, local EMS, firefighters, etc. – would benefit from having worked together before. The event may have been competitive in nature, but Swindle said there was a lot of positive interaction between Twin Creeks and the other Nevada teams. He commented, “It may be a competition, but we’re Nevadans first and we stick together.” In addition to the competition, the rescue team also took in a day of training. Swindle noted how important it is for them to keep up with the constantly changing regulations. As Swindle explained, since he also works closely with the Winnemucca Rural Fire Department, the training would also benefit local firefighters. Additionally, all the training can only benefit the community at large. Swindle said if there were ever a disaster in Humboldt County, like the recent semi-vs.-train crash in Churchill County, the mines would send their rescue crews to assist in whatever way necessary. Many in the community may know Swindle from his years of teaching at Winnemucca Jr. High School. He went to work for Newmont after retirement, putting to use the skills garnered from years of working with the Winnemucca Rural Fire Department. He acknowledged that retirement was “boring” and said, “Golf wasn’t ready for me yet.” 
Jim Jensen, Travis Peterson, Steve Kontny, Tim Spangler, Left Front Roberto Mercardo, Ben Padilla and Krisy Cornejo.
(shown) Steve Kontny and Ben Padilla
(shown) Krisy Cornejo and Jim Jensen demonstrate their First Aid skills.
As part of the rigging competition, the team had to put the basket holding the victim in the square. (shown) Berto, Jim, Travis, Krisy with Ben behind the judge giving directions.
(shown front row) Steve Kontny, Kristine Cornejo, Ben Padilla, Roberto Mercardo, Bill Swindle (shown back row), Dayne Heese, Travis Peterson, Jim Jensen, Tim Spangler.
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