Mine rescue competition returns to Bluefield State College for 8th year in a row
WVNS-TV
June 1, 2014
BLUEFIELD, W.Va. - For the 8th consecutive year, the "best of the best" in mine rescue teams gathered to take part in mine rescue training.
Michael Plumley, director of the mine rescue, said that with so many mines in West Virginia, accidents are bound to happen.
"You hope a disaster never happens but unfortunately it does happen and we have gentleman who are prepared in case of an emergency," Plumley said.
14 different rescue teams filled the field and went through simulated mine disasters. With an 80 minute time limit, they had to figure out how to save people who were trapped. They used extensive communication skills and worked as a team to complete the goal.
With such a dangerous job, family members are left hoping that the phone call to respond to a disaster never comes. Chris Orrin's dad is a coal miner and Chris said it's not easy being the son of a father with such a scary job.
"I kind of get scared, because I don't want him to die. I hope he calls me when he comes out to tell me he's okay," Orrin said.
Stacie smith's husband is one of the thousands of people who are counted on in the time of a mine disaster. She says, it's a good feeling to know that someone would risk their life for another.
"It honestly makes me feel proud to know that he would risk his life to save someone else's father," Smith said.
Officials say the whole point of this is to be able to execute a rescue mission as safely as possible.
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