| Four members recently completed the Swift Water Rescue Technician class held at the SMRTC. The class was held in September and students spent two nights in the classroom learning about different aspects including water dynamics, hazards and obstacles, IMS, equipment and safety of water rescues. This was followed by an intensive two day practical at the Dickerson Flume in Montgomery County.
There, students learned first hand a number of potential rescue situations they may face in the future. After getting outfitted in the proper safety gear, students jumped right in to action. While students took turns jumping in to the currents, others practiced their skills with a throw bag to help pull their classmates to shore. Throughout the weekend participants learned how to properly maneuver themselves through the water avoiding certain hazards and obstacles, performed in-water contact rescues, C-spine immobilization tactics, shallow water crossings, and several techniques for self-rescue.
They also learned the importance of teamwork, especially in these rescue situations where the potential for injury can be very high. Students learned to work well together in small and large groups, setting up different technical rope systems in and out of the water and paddling a boat through the current. Their final challenge of shooting the entire length of the flume as one group, which they successfully completed on Sunday, was their last objective.
MVFD would like to thank MFRI for hosting this class, and Rescue 3 International and their instructors for a job well done in teaching the highly educational course. We hope to see more like it in the future. |
