Water rescue program from the ground up??

[andysa114]

My volunteer dept. is in the process of starting a water resuce division. We serve and area of approximately 20 sqaure miles and have approximately 10 miles of shoreline on Lake Texoma. We are looking at running with 2 waverunners and 1 15-20 ft boat. I am looking for any information regarding SOG's, protocols, training information I might find to help us get started. Any advice would greatly be appreciated.

Thank you,

Andrew MacPherson
Chief of Operations
Preston Volunteer Emergency Services
903-786-3010 Office
903-819-4826 Cell
903-786-9889 Fax
andysa114@msn.com E-mail

[LAFDPSO]

For training, I cannot recommend any entity more qualified or capable than:

http://www.rescue3.com

For networking on Swift Water Rescue issues...

http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/SwiftH2O-News

Brian

[ADSNWFLD]

Training is always one of the first things you need before going operational.
Do a needs assessment and decide what you will be capable of doing and what you want to respond to. Will it be surface only, swift water, dive, evidence to help the PD, boat support?
Dive Rescue has done some of our training as well as lifeguard systems and I feel either can help.

[andysa114]

This program will be surface only for the time being. We have a couple of certified divers on our dept. but at this time, I'm not realy ready to "dive" into the aspects of a dive team. We don't have any swift water so to speak. Thank you for your comments.


Andrew MacPherson
Chief of Operations
Preston Volunteer Emergency Services
14691 N. FM 120
Pottsboro, TX 75076
903-786-3010 office
903-819-4826 cell
andysa114@msn.com

[Resq14]

Still important to be prepared for swiftwater rescues, even if you don't have a 365 day per year run of it.

Flooding happens, and FF's have been killed trying to effect rescues in floodwaters.