MEDIA ADVISORY For November 6-7: Gershow Recycling Hosts Urban Search and Rescue Training Exercise

Nov. 5, 2010 - PRLog -- Who:              Charles Keeling, Safety Director, Gershow Recycling
Suffolk County volunteer firefighters and first responders
Members of the Police Department
Members of the Suffolk County Fire Marshals Office
Coordinators from Suffolk County Fire Rescue Emergency Services
                       
What:            In support of local fire and emergency service departments, Gershow Recycling is hosting a two-day Urban Search And Rescue (USAR) training exercise at its facility in Medford. Approximately 40-45 technical specialists, firefighters, emergency medical service personnel and police officers will be on hand.

Suffolk County is in the beginning stages of developing a task force consisting of specialty rescue personnel from Suffolk County Volunteer Fire Departments and EMS agencies, Suffolk County Fire Rescue Emergency Services and, the Suffolk County Police Department personnel. The purpose of this training exercise is for the task force to mobilize and train as a unit. The task force’s mission is to assist and supplement local fire departments and local police precincts during major emergencies or disasters.

The task force will mobilize across the street from Gershow’s facility, and then enter the Gershow site, where they will participate in various scenarios involving the location, rescue (extrication) and initial medical stabilization of “victims” trapped inside a vehicle. Gershow’s Safety Director, Charles Keeling, worked with task force leaders to establish the scenarios and locations for this exercise. Once the exercise ends, the vehicles will be shredded and all parts of the vehicles will be recycled.

Urban Search And Rescue (USAR) is considered a “multi-hazard” discipline, as it may be needed for a variety of emergencies or disasters, including earthquakes, hurricanes, typhoons, storms, tornadoes, floods, dam failures, technological accidents, terrorist activities and the release of hazardous materials.

When:            Saturday, November 6, 2010
                       12 p.m. — Task force starts mobilizing
                       1-4 p.m. — Rescue training

                       Sunday, November 7, 2010
                       8:30 a.m.-12 p.m. — Training continues

Where:           Gershow Recycling
                       71 Peconic Avenue
                       Medford, NY

Directions:    LIE to Exit 64. Take Route 112 South to Patchogue. Go 0.7 mile. Turn left at Peconic Avenue. Go 1.3 miles. Gershow is on the left.

Photo Ops:   Task force members participating in rescue training exercises. Mr. Keeling joined by members of the task force.

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About Gershow Recycling
Started in 1964 by Sam Gershowitz, Gershow Recycling began as a two man operation with a tractor and trailer, a boom truck and the first portable car flattener. Now with the second generation carrying on the legacy, Gershow generates over 750 jobs, contributing millions of dollars to local economy, while helping to preserve Long Island’s environment. Gershow Recycling takes aluminum, brass, copper, steel, cast iron, appliances, cars and vehicles. In keeping with its philosophy of “Preserving the Future by Recycling the Past,” Gershow Recycling purchases scrap metal that would have otherwise wound up in local landfills, and turns them into high-quality scrap products for recycling. The company produces both ferrous and non-ferrous products.