Training Dummy Prompts Emergency Services to Respond

MARTINSBURG, WV - Imagine the horror of passing a utility pole and seeing a body dangling from it. That is exactly what one person witnessed during the morning hours at the intersection of Wilson Street and New York Avenue in Martinsburg on Wednesday. At 8:11 a.m. Berkeley county 911 received a call that someone had seemingly committed suicide by hanging himself from a utility pole. The police and fire departments were immediately dispatched to the scene.

Martinsburg police Sgt. B.L. Yost was one of the officers who first saw the frightening spectacle at Allegheny Power Company's offices. At first glance, it really did seem to be the dead body of an unfortunate soul who had ended it all on a telephone pole. "When we first got out of our cars, we thought it was real," Yost said. "We were, for a minute, wondering how we were going to get the man down off of the pole."

Taking a look at the pictures provided by the police department on their website, one can get a better idea of why the dummy had everyone fooled. The face was blocked by the pole and all that could be seen were lifeless hands and legs drooping helplessly creating a macabre picture.

When the officers walked around the property and gained a different view of the pole, it became obvious that it was not a dead body at all, but a mannequin. It may seem strange to imagine why a dummy would be hanging from a utility pole to most of the population. However, Allegheny Power uses such mannequins for training purposes.

Even though the Allegheny spokesman did not offer comments on the incident, such trainings are common and outlined on the American Public Power Association's website. There was even a "Hurtman Rescue" event, in which a line worker scales such a pole to "rescue" a 165-pound mannequin at the 2007 Public Power Lineworkers' Rodeo in Marietta, Georgia last month.

The purpose of such trainings is to teach workers how to rescue an injured lineman who is trapped on a pole that has live, electrified wires involved. Strict safety protocol must be followed to save the person in distress and prevent a new injury to the rescuer.

"I'm glad it wasn't what it was supposed to be," Yost said, reflecting the feelings of everyone involved. According to the Martinsburg Police Department's website, there were several other "victims" discovered once they checked the property.

Martinsburg Fire Department Lt. Donald Shirley summed it all up, "It was an honest mistake."

"Rescue Units Called in to Save a Dummy" Associated Press. URL: (http://hosted.ap.org/dynamic/stories/O/ODD_RESCUE_THE_MANNEQUIN?SITE=ORROS&SECTION=HOME&TEMPLATE=DEFAULT)

"Training mannequin seen hanging around" Heraldmail.com. URL: (http://www.herald-mail.com/?module=displaystory&story_id=165284&format=html)

Edward Marshall, "Training mannequin mistaken for hanged man" The Journal. URL: (http://www.journal-news.net/News/articles.asp?articleID=9162)

"The Suicide That Wasn't What It Seemed" Martinsburg Police Department. URL: (http://www.martinsburgpd.org">http://www.martinsburgpd.org)

"2007 Public Lineworkers' Rodeo" American Public Power Association. URL: (http://appanet.org/events/index.cfm?ItemNumber=17993&sn.ItemNumber=2043">http://appanet.org/events/index.cfm?ItemNumber=17993&sn.ItemNumber=2043)