Twelve Arlington firefighters from the Technical Rescue station took part in the three-day
training at Six Flags Over Texas, which involved practicing rescue skills on several
attractions, including the park’s signature roller coasters and drop rides.
Collin College Fire Science Instructor Brian Luyster said the training will add to their knowledge base and improve their rope rescue skills in the event that they are needed to assist guests at the park.
“We practice low-frequency but high-risk rescue scenarios where access to reach those impacted may be difficult,” said Special Operations Captain Eddy Saldivar. “This type of training is extremely valuable for our firefighters and can be applied to a variety of rescue situations.”
Collin College provides training like this custom-designed rope rescue class at its Public Safety Training Center in McKinney, as well as on-site by request.
“Specialized training classes like this one reflect the exceptional knowledge and
skills of Collin College’s Fire Science instructors and their ability to adapt their
training to new environments,” said Dr. Neil Matkin, Collin College district president.
“These rescue scenarios also speak to the foresight of the Arlington Fire Department
and Six Flags Over Texas for recognizing a training need and working with Collin College
to fill it.”
Collin College worked diligently with the theme park to accommodate this real-world training prior to Six Flags’ busy summer season.
“The safety of our guests is a cornerstone of our business, and we welcome any opportunity that fosters collaboration within our community to ensure that emergency personnel are knowledgeable about our park and attractions,” said Joe Allred, director of Safety and Security for Six Flags Over Texas. “We look forward to hosting additional training sessions at Six Flags Over Texas in years to come.”
Collin College serves more than 60,000 credit and continuing education students annually and offers more than 200 degrees and certificates, including a Bachelor of Science in Nursing (BSN), a Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) in Cybersecurity, a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Construction Management, a Bachelor of Applied Science (BAS) in Clinical Operations Management, and a new Bachelor of Applied Technology (BAT) in Software Development. The only public college based in Collin County, Collin College is a partner to business, government, and industry, providing customized training and workforce development. For more information, visit www.collin.edu.
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Top two photos courtesy of Six Flags
Twelve Arlington firefighters took part in three days of rescue skills training and
practice at Six Flags Over Texas, led by members of the Collin College Fire Science
faculty.
Third photo courtesy of Brian Luyster
The clouds break to light up Collin College's Technical Rescue trailer, which was
used during the training at Six Flags Over Texas.