WVU Medicine Donates Training Mannequin To Wheeling Fire Department

WHEELING -- A new training mannequin will give Wheeling firefighters a more realistic way to prepare for emergencies without putting people at risk.

WVU Medicine donated the 100-pound mannequin to the Wheeling Fire Department, with officials from both organizations gathering Wednesday at the department’s headquarters to show off the new training tool.

WVU Medicine had asked the fire department to conduct a demonstration later this week for a trauma training class. Wheeling Fire Department leaders saw an opportunity to put the new mannequin to use during the demonstration and in future training exercises.

Wheeling Fire Capt. Jason Milton, the department’s head of emergency medical services, said the mannequin will be particularly useful during a vehicle extraction demonstration planned for the class.

"It gives us something the size and weight of a human," Milton said, "but we’re also not putting a live person in harm’s way when we don’t have to. There are situations where we might not want to put a new recruit, an employee or someone like that where they can risk injury or harm."

The mannequin weighs about 100 pounds, providing firefighters with a more realistic training tool when practicing rescues, extractions and other emergency drills.

Milton said the Wheeling Fire Department and WVU Medicine have maintained a strong working relationship for years. The fire department frequently responds to WVU Medicine facilities in the city for incidents such as water breaks and fire alarms.

David Phillips, chief operating officer of WVU Medicine Wheeling Hospital, said supporting the fire department is a natural extension of the health system’s role in the community.

"It’s essential to be able to support entities like the Wheeling Fire Department," he said. "Our work goes beyond the four walls of the hospital. We have to make sure we have great partners in the community and the Wheeling Fire Department is one of the best. It’s important for us to be able to provide them resources to make sure we’re taking care of the people of the Ohio Valley."