An Alabama fire department is facing scrutiny after an inappropriate training video surfaced, showing recruits responding to a simulated medical emergency involving a man with a plunger protruding from his backside.
Recruits were ordered to go home immediately on Friday, Sept. 27, cutting training classes short. They were soon notified that an investigation had been initiated into the Decatur Fire Department (DFR) by the Alabama Fire College after it received complaints about improper training practices, according to WAFF48.
The video in question shows several recruits entering a public restroom, with one man lying facedown on the ground with a plunger sticking out of him. Some recruits can be seen laughing while others try to maintain a straight face.
According to the Alabama NBC affiliate, the footage was taken earlier this year and shows recruits "role-playing a rescue" during a staged drill meant to prepare them for "odd circumstances."
In a statement shared with the outlet, Fire Chief Tracy Thornton acknowledged that while the goal was to help ready new recruits, this training session was poorly executed.
"The video was taken during a drill that was intended to show recruits that they may have respond to very odd circumstances on emergency calls," Thornton said in a statement. "During the video, we witnessed an exercise being used that was inappropriate for this type of training. Even though the concept of preparing recruits for the unexpected is good in theory, the practical application was completely wrong."
Despite none of the current recruits appearing in the video, the Alabama Fire College is still conducting interviews with each one along with DFR staff to gather more information around the incident.
DFR opened its doors back up to recruits and continued its training on Oct. 1. Thornton reassured the public these types of hypothetical scenarios would not be allowed moving forward.
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