ATI's Darla Gipson Takes on the Firefighter Challenge

On September 9th, the Anderson, Indiana Fire Department invited ATI's Darla Gipson from our Anderson, Ind., clinic and eight others from the local City Council and Public Safety Board for a once in a lifetime opportunity to simulate the work and danger of a firefighter. Teams spent six hours going through various simulations including search and rescues, backdrafts and more. Here's what Darla had to say:

"This was an incredible experience to share with my local lawmakers and council members. This was invaluable to experience as a rehabilitation clinician.  I have gained  knowledge that I can go back and share with my staff. This  also gives me ideas for a possibility to partner or assist the fire department in screening for injury prevention. Thank you to Matt Cole who allowed this amazing opportunity. The green group had an experience in the smoke chamber that was a first for the burn team; a backdraft was created and blew the doors open to the smoke chamber. This had never happened before and I was lucky enough to be a witness. I never knew that smoke could catch fire and seeing the flames dance across the room was so elegant. It was very hot though as temperatures reach over 600 degrees where we were sitting, and if we were to stand up, we would have melted our masks and hoods as the temperature reaches around 2000 degrees. The blind rescue simulation was challenging as we navigated a ‘house’, which included trekking up/down stairs to find a baby and mother, though we could only feel around given the fact that we were forced to crawl. Imaging doing all of this while still trying not to forget the direction we came from so we could safely route back to the door! Climbing the ladder with full gear was another physically taxing event. The ladder was only extended to 40 feet at a 50 degree angle and it goes to 100 feet at 70 degree angle. Wow! Such an amazing experience!"