On August 30th, the first responders, deputies, and reserve deputies all met at the Roundup baseball field for a two-hour training for first responders. TIM's, Traffic Incident Management Responder Course is a Nationally based certified training. From the website the program states; "This program was developed for the Federal Highway Administration to teach national best practices for scene management and to encourage cooperation by the multiple agencies and companies that may respond to an emergency. These classes allow all the agencies to work through scenarios and develop relationships in a classroom environment with cross communication rather than during a high pressure, time sensitive response situation in traffic. These responders include law enforcement, fire and rescue, emergency medical services, transportation, public service communications, emergency management, towing and recovery, hazardous materials contractors, and traffic information media personnel. This training is required for all responders and CHP will require all TSA (Tow Service Agreement) responders to have completed this training".
"The certified training will also help to bring insurance costs down." Sheriff Lesnik states, "The training provides shared understanding for all emergency and first responders of requirements for safety, quickness, and efficiency".
The teams trained together with fire department on how to set up on crashes to create a safe situation for everyone involved in an emergency.
The Sheriff explained that the training was organized by Justin Russell who is a nationally certified TIM's trainer. They hope to have another training on September 27. The need for safety along the highways is evergreen. Just this year alone there have been eighteen (18) law enforcement officers killed on highways while doing their job. This is not to mention the first responders and emergency vehicle operators that have died. Just last fall, two Hanser's Tow truck drivers from Billings were killed responding to an accident.
Tow trucks are now legally considered emergency vehicles, and drivers must follow the same law when approaching, or passing a tow truck as any other emergency or patrol vehicle. The law 61-8-346 Montana annotated code can be found online. The law instructs drivers to slow to at least 20 miles per hour below the speed limit and change lanes if safely possible when approaching and passing an accident and any emergency vehicle. Along our highways that means no one should pass an accident or emergency vehicle going faster than 50mph.
Thank you to all of our local first responders, your service to our community provides our security, safety, and has been invaluable to a community who has struggled through many fires, and accidents. Our community would not be the spectacular place that it is without each of you voluntarily giving of yourselves. You are all our hero's and we, in Roundup, hold you in the highest regard.
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