By Craig Haupert
Niles Daily Star
DOWAGIAC, Mich. — Nine-year-old Conor Taylor had difficulty making even the simplest of movements while wearing an adult firefighter’s uniform Tuesday morning at Crystal Springs Camp in Dowagiac.
The gear, which included a full suit, boots and hat, weighed 45 pounds and was very warm even in the shade on a hot August day.
“It is really heavy,” Taylor said.
Taylor, of Mattawan, was one of approximately 20 youth who traveled from all over southwest Michigan to attend a three-day public safety 911 camp at the Dowagiac camp retreat.
The camp featured firefighters, police officers and paramedics from departments throughout Berrien and Cass Counties, including the Niles Fire Department, Pokagon Township Fire Department, Southwestern Michigan Community Ambulance Service and sheriff’s departments from both counties.
Campers learned about police Monday, firefighting Tuesday and are scheduled to learn about the jobs of paramedics today.
Jerry Schley, a paramedic trainer for SMCAS, said the camp was offered once around five years ago before being revived this summer.
“We are trying to involve as many departments as we can,” he said. “With the negative press about emergency services going on, we want to show them that these guys are here to help you out and save you. Some of them (campers) want to be policemen or firemen.”
Schley was helping teach the youth about the firefighters’ gear and how to put it on Tuesday morning. The campers then raced to see who could get the gear on the fastest with a goal of less than 60 seconds.
“They were doing pretty good today,” he said. “The fastest kid with assistance was 28 seconds. Without assistance it was 43.”
On Monday, Pokagon Tribal Police Department demonstrated a mock felony traffic stop, while the Cass County Sheriff’s Department brought in a police bloodhound dog to track the scent of a camp counselor.
Campers were also scheduled to see a mock extrication of a school bus performed by the Pokagon Fire Department Tuesday night.
Lt. Bill McAllister, of the Niles Fire Department, taught campers about how firefighters can use ropes, pulleys and knots to rescue people who have fallen into holes or other hard to reach places.
McAllister said one of the reasons he is helping teach the camp is to spark interest in his profession to the younger generation.
“I want someone to say, ‘I want to be able to do something like that,’” he said. “We are training up our replacements, plus it is just fun to be here.”
Schley said organizers hope to bring the camp back again next summer.
Copyright 2016 the Niles Daily Star, Mich.