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Highlands Today

Sun 'N Lake Prepares For Emergencies In Preserve

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By Dan  Fearson | Highlands Today

Published: December 10, 2007

SEBRING — Over the summer months, 11 children and two adults became lost among the spacious area that is the Sun 'n Lake of Sebring's Preserve.

A faster emergency response system with vehicles that could easily prowl the land became something district officials deemed necessary, so they purchased three four-wheeler ATVs in October.

"(The vehicles) can be used for a number of things," said Sam Henderson, Sun 'n Lake's director of public safety. "The main thing is that they will help out our response time during emergency situations."

Over the last few weeks, the district organized its own Rural Rescue Response Team, featuring firefighters to man the vehicle. Henderson estimated that Sun 'n Lake has more than 3,000 acres of wooded land that sit behind its residential area and are popular with bikers and hikers.

"We've had firefighters that have had to go back into the woods and search for children, and have ended up carrying them out by hand," said Henderson. "Often, the children are two miles or more back into the preserve."

Henderson said the district paid approximately $5,000 apiece for two cherry-red 2007 Honda 4x4 ATVs, and $7,800 for a green John Deere Gator utility vehicle.

Over the past month the district began customizing the vehicles by putting headlights on them and equipping them with medical and safety devices. The Honda ATVs now have medical packs connected to the back of them, while the Gator has a stretcher than can be used to transport people.

"Not only will the vehicles be used to get to our hard-to-reach places and rural neighborhoods, but they will also be useful during events," said Henderson. "We can use them during our holiday and community events to respond to emergencies in crowded areas. We're also going to be able to use them on our golf course."

Citing the lost children and adults in its preserve, Henderson said the district began thinking about making the vehicle purchases over the summer after doing research on the Internet and through trade magazines.

"I've ridden my bike through our trail and I would defiantly say there's a good chance that someone could end up getting hurt or lost," said firefighter Austin Maddox. "That's why I think the vehicles are a fantastic idea."

"I think it's a very innovative idea," said Sun 'n Lake firefighter Steve Kolb. "Anything that will allow use to get to hard-to-reach places in a fast time will be helpful."

Henderson said that firefighters who work for the Sun 'n Lake Fire Department will have to be certified before they can operate the vehicles in an emergency situation.

"I expect all of our firefighters to take certification classes over the upcoming months," said Henderson.

So far the department has been lucky, because they have not had to use to vehicles to respond to an emergency since they completed the customization work.

"Not only is it a great idea for Sun 'n Lakes," said firefighter Jason Lare, "but it could end up becoming a helpful idea for the county."

Henderson said that he has talked to Highlands County officials and told them that if there is ever a need for the vehicles the district would be more than happy to provide them with their help.

Henderson said the vehicles will be stored at the department's fire bay, allowing firefighters to use them when deemed necessary.

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