Lookout Mountain FOOLS Holds School Bus Extrication Class TIFTONIA, TENN – Saturday, May 12, 2007 – The newly formed Lookout Mountain Chapter of the Fraternal Order of Leatherheads Society (FOOLS) held a school bus extrication training class today on the property of Covenant Transport in Tiftonia.  According to their press release announcing the class, “The FOOLS International is known for their ability to raise funds for numerous non-profit organizations as well as assisting emergency services nation wide with well needed training.  We felt this would be a very important class for this area due to the major interstates and numerous attractions we have in the Tennessee Valley.” This informative and hands on class was attended by firefighters from Bartow County, GA, Catoosa County, GA, Cobb County, GA and Dade County, GA.  Those attending were given some classroom type instruction and then turned loose on two different school buses.  One was upright and the other placed on its side.  Everyone was given ample opportunity to use several different extrication tools and find out first hand just how they work and what effect they have on something as heavy duty as a school bus.  The firefighters experimented with different ways to accomplish the same goal of opening up the buses. One firefighter made the comment, “this is one of the best classes I have attended in years”, while another stated “a very good class, I’m glad I came.”   Officials with FOOLS deemed the class a big success and vowed to continue their support of firefighter training in the area. Several vendors were present throughout the day making their items available to those attending the class.  These vendors were: Chris Mylek and Doug Emerson with Samson Industrial Jim Melrose with Quaker turnout gear Paul Hill with East Ridge Uniform Ellen & Dick Brown with FOOLS International In addition to these vendors, the mobile Blood Assurance vehicle was available so that firefighters could donate blood. The Lookout Valley Chapter of FOOLS would like to specifically thank Covenant Transport for allowing this event to take place on their property, G&C Supply for providing the latest and greatest in Hurst extrication equipment, and the North Dade Fire Department for the use of their fire and rescue trucks.  The class could not have been presented had not First Student provided the buses and Yates Wrecker Service moved and positioned the buses.