Crime & Safety

VIDEO: Northbrook Fire Department Undergoes Helicopter Training

NFD Captain Tim Smeltzer selected to replace Bob Brogan as Deputy Chief of Operations.

Folks visiting the got an unexpected show on Thursday afternoon when the fire department went through helicopter training in a lawn behind the library and Village Hall. 

As part of their in-service training, firefighters and paramedics reviewed the latest Federal Aviation Administration safety standards. 

Captain Tim Smeltzer said the department performs helicopter training about every other year. It was especially important to do the training this year because the air trainsport service Flight For Life adopted a new line of helicopters. 

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Northbrook's firefighters "actually do a hands-on so the guys can see how to load the patient in, emergency procedures for the helicopter if there’s a problem," Smeltzer said. “A lot of times they’re in flight doing an in-flight transport, they got to make an emergency landing maybe in our town, we have the ability to help them with that patient and continue the transport.”

Smeltzer has also been selected to at the Northbrook Fire Department. 

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