The St. John Ambulance south Niagara branch held a training session for Pelham's volunteer firefighters at Station No. 2 on Welland Road Sept. 27.

Part of the training was suppposed to include helicopter work for air-ambulance purposes, including setting up a landing zone and safely getting patients taken away, said Steve Murphy, co-ordinator of St. John Ambulance south Niagara. However, due to weather conditions, the helicopter training had to be postponed.

After briefing the firefighters in helicopter basics, the group had wanted to "go out to Centennial Park and land a helicopter on the soccer field," said Murphy.

The day also included training in areas including multiple casualty incidents and vehicle extrication. The firefighters also cut up cars in the fire station parking lot to save patients, he said.

"Basically what we're doing is a full day of trauma care training for firefighters," said Murphy. "It's going to be a huge day."

Thirty members of Pelham's all-volunteer fire department had signed on for the training. St. John has held specialized training sessions before and usually firefighters from across the region are invited, but this meeting was requested by the Pelham department.

"They're giving up a day with their families to learn more about patient care,"said Murphy.

Kyle Bates, an emergency medical services expert from the United States, spoke at the meeting, and the chopper, a Eurocopter, came from Mercy Flight, Buffalo, New York State, a provider of air medical services.