UMaine Conducting Confined-Space Mock Rescue Training

Contact: Scott Wilkerson, 207-581-3049 or scott.wilkerson@umit.maine.edu

July 21, 2011

University of Maine Facilities Management and UMaine Public Safety will work with the Orono Fire Department this week to a mock rescue exercise on the UMaine campus. The scenario deals specifically with confined-space rescue.

The first exercise was held Monday with two more planned for Tuesday and Wednesday. The same exercise will be held all three days.

The exercises will gear up at approximately 12:10 p.m. at the rear of Bryand Global Sciences Center. The mock rescue itself will begin at around 12:50 p.m.

The mock rescue scenario involves two members of UMaine Facilities Maintenance HVAC staff who have gone to clean out a build-up of organic debris collecting at the bottom of an air intake plenum at the rear of the Bryand Center. The HVAC staff will place a mannequin on the floor of the plenum, simulating a worker who has collapsed for an unknown reason and is unresponsive.

The facilities management team will contact UMaine Public Safety to initiate the mock rescue, which is expected to take about 40 minutes.

The Bryand Global Sciences Center is located on Grove Street Extension.

Please contact Scott Wilkerson, Facilities Safety and Regulatory Compliance manager, for more information.