First responders from four different communities in southeast Saskatchewan are currently vying for significant cash prizes in a province-wide contest.
The Midale/Cymri Volunteer First Responders, Lampman Fire and Rescue, Carlyle Volunteer Fire Department and Redvers Fire Department are entered in the Responders First competition offered by My Mutual Insurance.
Midale Cymri Volunteer First Responders have been an active organization for the area since June 1996.
“We strive to ensure the safety of all individuals within our community through preventative measures and a safe, swift response time,” states the submission for the department.
Educating students is of great importance to their team and the safety of future generations. They have done several presentations at Midale Central School, Macoun School and their local play school, focusing on when and why you should call 911, explaining the importance of having a fire escape plan in your house, and allowing the students to explore response units, among many other safety discussions.
Allowing the students to explore the units is not only a factor in education but also an effort to minimize some fear and anxiety if they were to see the department responding within the community.
They also volunteer at community functions such as sporting events and celebrations, providing stand-by services, and they take continual training to ensure their patients are receiving the best possible care and they respond to all types of emergencies in local towns and surrounding areas.
Lampman Volunteer Fire Department was first established around 1916 and now has 22 active members.
“Our membership has taken and continues to take training in a multitude of different disciplines from basic firefighting to vehicle extrication, ice rescue training to wildfire management and more,” their entry says.
They work in close conjunction with Lampman EMS, as many of their fire department members are also volunteers on the ambulance and first responders.
Helping within the community outside of emergencies is also a major priority for the department. They have been known for their breakfasts at the rink and school, as well as helping with other community fundraising events. They also take great pride in educating their young people through Fire Prevention Week presentations to the elementary school students.
Carlyle’s entry says small town fire departments are often the heart of their community and this is definitely the case for the Carlyle Fire & Rescue Department. “This group of volunteers risks their lives to protect others in the R.M. of Moose Mountain, in the town of Carlyle and surrounding areas.”
Recently, they have been raising funds for their new fire hall, which is scheduled to open this November. Winning this donation would help with some of the costs of building a new hall and also go towards new tools, equipment and everyday operating costs.
The Redvers department, which has 21 members, has dedicated community members. Their write-up states that not only do they show up monthly for meetings and training, they leave their houses in the middle of the night, at special family events and in the middle of supper to tend to emergency situations.
“Our Fire Department not only specializes in acquiring the most up to date equipment and training, they are avid community members,” their submission said.
They often take part in various training events such as confined space, ice water, grain bin and high rise rescues, all while taking photos and videos to inform the public about the importance of safety. Weekly safety videos have been done in the past as well as providing smoke detectors and in-home safety checks to those who have needed them.
A highlight over the years has been the mock accidents held in collaboration with the Redvers School. The students were put in real-life situations as only a few key players actually knew the scenarios were not real.
Redvers also posted a video with their submission.
My Mutual is offering two prizes of $24,000 to local groups of volunteer first responders in Saskatchewan.
Voting began Tuesday at 8 a.m. Winners will be revealed on two separate dates of Sept. 21 and Oct. 5.
People can only vote once per day, per device.
Winners are determined by online votes received.
Voting closes at noon on Sept 20 for first round. It reopens Sept. 22 at midnight and closes Oct. 5 at noon for the second round.
You can visit https://www.mymutualinsurance.ca/responders-first-contest?start=0 to find and vote for the department of your choice.
