MacQueen Emergency prepares first responders for crash scenes

DELAFIELD, Wis. - After bad crashes, first responders sometimes have to tear cars apart to save a life. Vehicle extrication can be both delicate and forceful. FOX6's Spencer Tracy visited Delafield to learn about the MacQueen Emergency Jaws of Life Extrication Training.

From breaking glass to cutting into cars, firefighters treated this training as though they were at a real crash scene.

"We are preparing the firefighters for what they are going to face out there," said Tim Leyden, MacQueen Emergency. "We operate in the golden hour, from the time the car accident happens to the time we get them to the trauma center."

Leyden's job is to teach first responders lifesaving skills. One-hundred firefighters from across the Midwest made the trip to MacQueen Emergency for the training, including Brian Haag, a rescue EMS captain from Michigan.

"It’s about a seven-and-a-half-hour drive for us," said Haag.

He and 20 different fire departments participated in the two-day course, learning about emergency vehicle extrication.

"Every day, you are learning something new," said Haag.

Leyden said along with heavy-duty tools, they have 60 cars, a semi and a bus to train with.

"It takes a whole team of us to coordinate and get all these things in here," said Leyden.

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He said this type of training is needed more often than you might think.

"One thing we noticed in the last 10 years is distracted driving, a person just picks up their phone, looking at that text message," said Leyden.

With real-life scenarios in front of them, Leyden said he hopes first responders can apply these skills while on duty.

"To put on an event like this, it takes a year of preparation, a lot of teamwork and moving parts," said Leyden.

MacQueen Emergency has been doing this training for over a decade, and they are always looking for more first responders to participate.