Over the past few months there has been a school program called Key that has come to the center 3 times. Unlike other groups they actually get "graded" on what they do here, and they are supposed to learn specific skills. On their fourth visit here we will test all their skills in a scenario. This past weekend we tested the scenario on the permanent staff (our bosses) and some of their friends.
We load them all up in the van, with all the window covers, and a helicopter noise. All the stuff they brought is in their packs. All of a sudden an alarm starts sounding and they all have to hurry out of the "helicopter" without their stuff. The copper leaves and suddenly they hear a loud bang and see smoke. They go and investigate and see the navigator, played by Debbie (a volunteer), screaming about her broken leg, and wanting them to check for other injured in the area. As some of the group started performing first aid on Debbie the others looked around for more injured. Very soon after they find the load master from the helicopter... Me. I'm laying face down, and when they turn me over they see that my face has been badly burned around the eyes. I'm also unconscious. I had trouble not smiling as they tried to preform first aid and did a terrible job (they said I must be dead 3 times), with very little organization. After they had finally patched me up I became conscious, but still blind with a bandage over my eyes. As that was going on they found the pilot Pavlina and treated her for a broken leg, which she didn't have, and a broken arm, and a head injury, she regained consciousness too. Then Debbie showed them where to get their gear on a map and sent them out to get it. Soon they were back with all their stuff. Now we just had to get to camp for the night. I had to be lead because of the blindness, and Debbie had to be carried because of the broken leg. When we made camp the group had to make a fire and cook over it. I think the meal they made was better than the one we brought up and made. Then we set out our sleeping bags with only a poncho hanging a foot over it incase it rained that night (its called biviing), luckily it didn't rain.
The next day we got up and had to be re-bandaged. I didn't do much that day besides being lead around and sitting blind, but the group had to find a place to cross a river, translate Spanish from some natives (oh yah the simulation takes place in Peru) to get food, build a bridge (they needed help for that one) and walk back to camp. We all spent 24 hours in the forest, it was my first time biviing out, I was blind almost the whole time, and it was a brilliant weekend.
PS: I will put some pictures on soon.
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2 comments:
sounds way cool!
Hope you can share some pictures, because the pictures tell it all. I'm glad it was just a simulation and not the real thing, but now you will be ready and with God's help you all can do what it takes to survive.
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