By Elizabeth Christensen
Utica, NY – Officials with the Lairdsville Fire Department hope ending the use of live "victims" during training drills will prevent another tragedy.
19 year old Bradley Golden, a trainee in the department, died in September of 2001. He was acting as a victim during a "live burn" drill at an abandoned house. When the structure failed, Golden was trapped. Another trainee who was also playing a victim was injured when he was forced to jump from a second story window.
The National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety is recommending that fire departments nationwide use mannequins as victims instead of people.