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Mine rescue teams compete

A Sufco Mine rescue team member conducts a search in a model section of mine and comes across a paper with the note "body" on it. His response and coordination with his team will be judged. In a real situation, there would be no sunlight and possibly smoke to impede progress. Other aspects of the competition include troubleshooting and repair of breathing apparatus and other specialized safety equipment.

A team from the West Elk Mine of Somerset, Colo. are watched closely as they prepare a simulated injury victim for transportation out the mine. The team must be fast but the procedures must also be letter-perfect. It gets down to fine points as to how they wrap gauze around wounds. They must tell the judge out loud every move they are making in the diagnosis and treatment of multiple injuries.

A special group of coal miners from around the West gathered at Mont Harmon Junior High School in Price this week as the Rocky Mountain Coal Mine Rescue Assocation conducted its annual competition. These are all miners who volunteer to go into a coal mine when everyone else is evacuating. Their job is to protect lives and property underground, which means that they need a thorough knowledge of first aid practices.

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