Phew....what a day!  The Engine Ops and Truck Ops classes are completed and we fired up Strategy and Tactics.  We found out today that each participant was charged roughly $100 USD to attend class.  For that sum, they can attend any class, are put up in a hotel, have meals provided, will receive a DVD of all the class activities, and I think they receive a t-shirt also.  Now considering in the US....most classes seem to be at least $100 for a day and you have to buy your own meals, lodging, and extras cost more.....it sounds like a pretty good deal. 

 

Most of the gang is getting a bit rundown from the constant demands of class, social functions, etc.  In fact, when we arrived...Hannah had a slight bout of feeling run down.  Somehow...she very nicely managed to spread her spores of disease to Mike.  Nice medic...eh?  Rick's voice is finally coming back (darn it!) and Dave is hitting the downhill slide of needing sleep.  We were scheduled to go to Yumbo today....but the trip was canceled as we wouldn't arrive "home" until late. 

 

Yesterday, Papa Paz took us to his home for an authentic Colombian fruit drink.  Wow...was it great!  Made with fruit, corn, and some other ingredients...it was extremely tasty!  He then decided to make us a wonderful beef steak for lunch.  I'm not sure what all the spices are that they use.....but it was terrific.  Last night for "dinner" was Ensaladas de Frutas.  In short....fruit salad with ice cream.  Oh yeah....we were all in hog heaven.

 

They are also getting a kick out of teaching us new phrases....just waiting for us to attempt to pronounce them.  Literally...the class will crack up laughing with any goofy phrase they come out with.  We've learned to watch out for a few that want to teach us a few "off color" phrases or words.  Seems like they are all practical jokers.

 

More to come tomorrow on the last day of class.

Day 5 has come to a close and needless to say...it was another exciting day.  Today was also the day that Bill Klein had to leave us and head back to the US for another class he has going.  Unfortunately he didn't have a chance to teach us how to salsa....so maybe next year!

 

During the day.....participants who were studying with Capt. Stanley were introduced to the confined space prop.  Let's just say...it had rained a day earlier and things were just a bit wet.  You judge for yourself from the photo!  We also made a new little friend and he tried his hand at becoming a Jamundi bombero.  Yes...we can add recruitment to our arsenal of specialties.  I also had a couple of "firsts" happen to me.  First one.....had the drill interrupted by cows who just cruised down the road and right through the middle of the Bomberos as they drilled.  About 2 hours later, one of them asked if he could borrow some hose to spray down the chickens.  Yes...the chickens!  I assumed he wanted something like 1 1/2" hose but now...he wanted 2 1/2" hose!  I just visions of chickens.....all 125,000 of them....flying around the hen house.  No...I didn't ask how they did when he returned.

 

Tonight we performed an impromptu "live fire training" exercise.  During the exercise....participants were sent to a fully involved car fire and had to search a building for victims.  Of course...they found a couple as it wouldn't be right if they didn't!  I think it is pretty safe to say that they had a pretty good time!

 

Today has been a long day...and we'll pick up a new group of participants tomorrow morning.  The gang is getting a little weary as we've been busy with activities of some form until at least 22:00 every night.  We'll see how it goes....and more to come tomorrow.

 

Well....classes rotated today and we all received a fresh new group of "participants".  By now...all things are in full swing.....we're pumped....participants are pumped....it's just an awesome thing that is happening this week.

 

For a quick change...the day started off raining...not a huge storm but enough to make everyone take cover for a bit.  Once things dried out....the temperatures remained decent and that was definitely a plus for those of us outside!  Finally.... a day without roasting our buns off!

 

Tonight the gang and several people from class want to take a trip into Cali on a Chiva bus.  This is a lively painted bus with music playing...a few drinks...etc.  Some of the class will be going along to hang out with the "boys and lone girl". 

 

Ah....today's pics come from Dave's extrication class where they are removing a person from an over-turned car.  Another is of Mike's group working off of a ladder (they don't like the roof!),  mine are from a little "competition" they had....and the special one is from Rick's class.  Actually...it isn't Rick in person...it's Rick locked in the bathroom by Dave and me!  Notice the broom handle position...and the rope holding it in place.  The class next to the door was splitting a gut with laughter!

 

Time to add the pics...hope the downpour outside stops...and see if I can get this email out on the same day I wrote it!  Gary will be doing a bit of cut and paste to get this on the OESP blog at www.OESP.net.  Just trying to download this on the BLOG from here....with the speedy dial up...is a bit tough.

 

More to come tomorrow......

We just finished up Day 2 of class...and the third day of being in Jamundi.  For most of us...it's becoming fairly comfortable...except the fact that the cold showers are still there.  In fact....I was convinced this morning that one of the group had used all the hot water as when I turned on the hot water faucet....only cold water came out!

 

Upon arrived at the station early this morning, we met el Commandante Sierra and presented a few more things to them...such as AEDs, suction units, more EMS equipment, a sawzall with plenty of blades to last for a while, sledge hammers, bolt cutters, etc.  It was almost like Christmas in October.  The reactions are pretty fun to watch and one of our favorites, Luis, was caught totally off guard with the plethora of EMS equipment.  Yeah, the big guy was brought to tears....but tears of happiness as most of the equipment was only things he had read about and never dreamed that they would have access to.  To say the people of Jamundi might be more safe is something that remains to be seen....but at least the local folks are now better equipped.  I can certainly imagine with their drive and desire to learn....the people of the city are much better off.  What a group.

 

As usual, it never ceases to amaze us at what other people will do when they don't have all that they need.  It seems as though there was a vehicle shortage for Dave's vehicle extrication class.  So....by the end of the day...one of the cars they had cut up yesterday was neatly WELDED back together and ready for tomorrow's class.  I don't mean just put tossed together...but the doors were back on, the top, the fenders...all of it!

 

Rick and Hannah's class pulled off a good one today at lunch.  Since they had spent the morning working with the AEDs, they decided to do a little demo at lunch time.  Of course...no one else knew about this piece.  So....as they finished lunch...one of the gentlemen dropped to the ground...clutching his chest.  The participants immediately sprang into action, hooked the patient to the AED...and successfully resuscitated him as he soon was up and walking.  The crowd was amazed at what the class had learned.  Will miracles never cease?

 

Mike spent the day  with breaching walls, doing search and rescue...and other fun things.  In fact...in the afternoon....he ran them through the new confined space prop out behind the fire station.   Hmmm....it was afternoon....the sun was up....and the black plastic covering made things nice and toasty for those learning their skills in full PPE, SCBA, and in a very dark atmosphere.  I think the consensus was that they had an absolute ball.  Tired....very beat....but had fun.

 

Bill and Dave spent the day hanging out at the pool for their class!  Actually....they are about 10 minutes away from the rest of us....at a resort...with swimming pools...restaurant...all the goodies that you could think of.  We didn't hear much from them today...although they both arrived with tiny little umbrellas from their pina coladas.

 

And the engine class.....well....we spent the day in the sun again....working on relay pumping...setting up ground monitors...and playing with "the coil".  The coil is a neat little hose trick that can be performed when you want to keep all of your hose neatly contained in a small area.  Pretty funny with how amazed they were of this.  And needless to say....there were just a few water fights...small ones....short one....and a lot of fun.  The deciding factor was pretty easy when you had a 100 gallon per minute hand line versus a 500 gallon per minute ground monitor that shoots more water farther. 

 

Tonight we'll be heading off to the Commandante Sierra's house for a few empanadas.  It's always good to visit with the Commandante and his family is extremely gracious and nice.  Tomorrow should also be pretty interesting as there are some very exciting lightening storms in the area.  Let's keep our fingers crossed that it doesn't rain....and if it does....make it short!  And finally....it will be good to get the M-4 here.  It's sitting in Long Beach...hopefully to set sail on a ship tomorrow.  The hose is needed urgently.  We're working with 350' of 2 1/2" hose and around 300' of 1 1/2" hose.  Split that up between one engine, one mini-pumper, and one tender and there isn't really enough to do much.  But...somehow they make it work for now. 

 

More to come later.  Oh...while your at it....visit www.OESP.net.  I know you'll want to do your Amazon Christmas shopping on line.  Part of the proceeds are sent back to OESP, which helps to fund projects like Colombia and Cambodia.  Oh...one last little thing.  We had a translator show up today in Jamundi to help.  As the story goes...he was in Miami...watching a Spanish TV news story...and saw OESP on the news.  Then he recognized Dave as someone he had met in Florida 7 or 8 years ago.  Being Colombian and being moved by what he saw....he immediately hopped on a flight from Miami to Cali to help translate. Cool stuff....eh?  And also very true!

As the gang from Seattle met at the airport and checked in....they informed us that nothing over 70 pounds could be sent...no exceptions to the rule...not even if it was Emergency Medical equipment.  I guess even the big airlines do not care..or have a choice on shipping of equipment.  There is more to the is story, regarding baggage, that I'll get to in a bit.   After much packing and repacking, we managed to get both of our shipping tubs, full of EMS gear, down to 70 pounds or less.  However, personal gear went up to nearly 50 pounds!  Of course...since there is not extra baggage....and extra weight....we were nicely nailed for a tidy sum of around $150 for the extras.  Remember that figure!

 

The Aurora gang went to the airport and again was told there is a 70 pound limit and no extra baggage.  Obviously, this is a bit frustrating for all....and a significant amount of valuable and badly needed equipment was left at the airport.  I promised I wouldn't mention the airline....but it's in the top 5 of the country and begins with the letter "C".  Once again...extra funds were paid for overweight and extra baggage. 

 

On the way between Houston and Cali, we met up with a medical team out of Detroit that was en route to Buga to perform orthopedic work.  This was a significant sized group of doctors and nurses and were going there for about 7 days of hard work.  We found that they had managed to get around 27 or so extra boxes on the plane....but only after haggling with the agents in Detroit for a very long time to accept the boxes.  Once we all arrived in Cali, we discovered that we were a wee bit late...and all the extra and overweight baggage was extremely late...as in it won't be in until maybe Tuesday.  I love this....you pay extra to get equipment on the plane...and then it shows up a few days later.  Alas, we weren't alone as none of the Detroit team's boxes arrived either.  Hmmm...sounds like there is a hole in the system!  And...the locals tell us that it isn't unusual to have bags show up several days after they should....not just a few.  The unfortunate part is the missing pieces are full of AEDs, suction units, pulse ox machines, and other supplies.  Let's just say that so far, things are not getting off to a good start.

 

HOWEVER...as we arrived in Jamundi, there was the usual band playing, fireworks, lots of bomberos waiting...and a totally revamped fire station.  Rooms have been remodeled, walls painted, and the large room upstairs....is now a pretty modern classroom....complete with fans, great lighting, and a newly refurbished bathroom.  Out back of the station, where there once as a parking lot, is a newly finished drill ground complete with a smoke room prop, large and sophisticated confined space prop, a flammable liquids prop, and a car fire prop.  I have to tell you....it's a 180 turn in conditions and a huge effort by the Jamundi bomberos to fix up their station and make it more functional.  We were all absolutely impressed.  Yes...we'll be using them all week for class!

 

As the day went on, more bomberos arrived from various parts of the country.  The longest drive that we know of was 24 hours.  Can you imagine driving 24 hours just to attend a class?  These folks are serious about their knowledge and training.  Others we met had driven 17 hours, 9 hours, etc.  Absolutely amazing and beyond comprehension.  The day was also peppered with a few calls that OESP members responded with Jamundi Bomberos.  One was a fire that was put out before arrival, and a couple of motorized vehicle collisions.  The first involved a motorcycle and a car at the intersection they call "The Intersection of Death".  OESP paramedics worked with the EMS workers and a local doctor at the scene, transporting two to the hospital.  A few hours later, OESP members responded again with Jamundi Bomberos to a two car collision.  Both cars received mild to moderate damage and two were transported to the hospital. 

 

In between calls, Mike, Dave, Bill, and myself were made honorary members of the Bomberos Jamundi and presented with an official Jamundi jumpsuit and hat.  I think that saying we were surprised would be a bit short of words.  We then proceed to deliver the first round of equipment to El Commandante Sierra and Capt. Gutierrez.  Multiple bags of EMS gear was presented and immediately afterwards, they put their trauma kits together.  That proved to be a good thing as they used them on both of the collisions!

 

Needless to say, we were all pretty excited to get class started when we arrived, but being able to see the vast change in their operations and upbeat attitude, we are all definitely ready to start class NOW!  Amazing that they all put so much effort and desire into their training and are willing to sacrifice so much.....to hear from other firefighters from a different country.  They're excited...we're excited....class should be a ball!

 

So...off to bed all of us and we'll be hitting the pavement for our 1/2 mile walk to the station at 0715 in the morning...where opening ceremonies will begin at 0800.  Yeah....we're lucky to be here....and we know it.