| Over the weekend a few of the members continued their education and training in water rescue. In 2007 we received a private grant from the Kennett Grange for a 12ft Zodiac rescue boat and a 25hp Mercury motor. Since then our company has spent countless hours training and preparing guidelines to successfully mitigate any water related incident we may be called to. Included in the training are required course by the PA Fish and Boat Commission to be recognized as a swift water rescue team. This weekend's class was another round of that training.
The Water Rescue Emergency Response class is 16 hour course that is considered the core class of the Fish and Boat curriculum. This class teaches how to recognize hazards in the water, establishes a clear and defined series of hand signals for communication, numerous self rescue techniques , land based rescue techniques and how to effect a rescue using throw bags.
We utilize Todd Stahl of Whitecap Rescue for all of our water rescue education. Based out of York County Pa, Instructor Stahl brings years of experience of teaching and participating in actual rescue incidents. Instructor Stahl is the water rescue captain for the Columbia Fire Co in Lancaster County. They protect a large portion of the Susquehanna River which keeps them busy each year.
The class started at 0800hrs on Saturday at the auditorium at Longwood Gardens. Saturday's class consisted of classroom lecture as well as a review of the skills that would be tested on Sunday.
Sunday started at 0700hrs at the YMCA in Kennett Square. Students spent approx 3 hours in the pool practicing their swimming; self rescue and throw bag tactics. After a brief break for lunch, the students traveled to the Brandywine Picnic Park to complete the practical skill stations in the Brandywine River. At the completion of the skill stations students returned to the firehouse at 1700hrs to clean our equipment and make it ready for service.
A special thanks to the instructors from Whitecap rescue, the Brandywine Area YMCA and the Brandywine Picnic Park for allowing us to use their facilities cost free. |
