Helicopter landing zone training held in Cobden

Union County emergency services personnel gathered Monday evening in Cobden for a special training session.

The training focused on emergency airlift transportation and the details which go into establishing a landing zone for a helicopter.

An Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter from Marion came to Cobden for the training. 

The event was hosted by the Cobden Fire Department. The department tries to host such training sessions about every two years.

Emergency services personnel from throughout the area attended the training session, which was held at the Cobden Community Park.

Among the agencies which joined the Cobden Fire Department for the session were the Alto Pass Fire Department, the Anna Fire Department, the Cobden Police Department, the Union County Ambulance Service and Makanda Township Fire/Rescue.

The Air Evac Lifeteam helicopter landed on a soccer field at the Cobden Community Park.

The training gave those in attendance a wide range of information to be utilized in the event that a helicopter is needed during an emergency.

The Cobden Fire Department handles about three to five such emergencies during the course of a year.

The Air Evac Lifeteam crew talked about such topics as establishing landing zones for a helicopter during an emergency. 

The crew also conducted hands-on training with equipment which is used during an emergency.