On Saturday, June 29th, over a dozen of Croton's Bravest participated in an all-day Firefighter Rescue Training class given by the instructors of First Due Training (www.firstduetraining.com). The program - which was a review of known practices and an introduction to some new - was held at the Millwood Fire Department's Training House.

The instructors - both from the Bayonne, NJ Fire Department - constructed and set up several obstacles and challenges for our members to complete - all of which were done with "blacked out" masks, taking away the eyesight of everyone in attendance.

Practical evolutions completed during the eight hour program included the "Denver Drill," Firefighter Rescue out of a window by using a ladder and by using a rope, carrying a firefighter up and down stairs, changing an air pack, using the "RIT Pack" and more.

The training was a first for some, and a review for many. The members in attendance gained a new appreciation for how difficult and intense saving one of our own really is, and re-instilled our team's tried and true principal that we can never stop training.

On behalf of the Croton-on-Hudson Fire Department, we extend our sincerest appreciation to Captain Donald "Dero" DeRogatis and his assistant from FDT, and look forward to working with them again in the not-so-distant future.