The Kenai Peninsula Borough will use about $125,000 to buy training simulator mannequins for Central Emergency Services following approval of the purchase by the Kenai Peninsula Borough Assembly during the body’s Aug. 17 meeting.

CES Fire Chief Roy Browning wrote in an Aug. 5 memo to the assembly that Laerdal Medical Corporation is the only manufacturer and distributor of the SimMan 3G and its associated accessories and services. The same equipment, Browning wrote, is used by Kenai Peninsula College and the Nikiski Fire Department.

Browning said the equipment would be used in day-to-day training for the purpose of learning new medical techniques and that having the same equipment as other agencies would provide more effective and efficient training.

“Having equipment that is compatible to equipment used by Nikiski and KPC will allow the medical director and training staff from all organizations to share training simulations and classes,” Browning wrote.

According to the resolution authorizing Kenai Peninsula Borough Mayor Charlie Pierce to enter into a sole source contract with the company, funding for the equipment was approved by the assembly in CES capital project funds as part of the budget process. In all, $126,559.66 was made available for the purpose of purchasing the mannequins and associated accessories and services.

Reach reporter Ashlyn O’Hara at ashlyn.ohara@peninsulaclarion.com.