Water rescue training
Firefighters will be braving the cold water this week as part of a specialised programme of water rescue training.
Head of Training and Development for Warwickshire Fire & Rescue Service, Simon Frost said:
“The main aim of the programme is to support the introduction of new operational procedures and equipment relating to water rescue from the ODPM. The procedures, equipment and training will provide a first-response capability to water rescue incidents for every fire appliance in the county and will compliment the specialist rescue boats and equipment already available.”
Currently Rugby fire station is designated as the county’s boat rescue station and specialist firefighters are mobilised to water related incidents occurring anywhere within Warwickshire. This latest initiative completes the overhaul of the service’s water rescue provision providing an enhanced rescue capability and improving the safety of firefighters. This programme of training and new equipment will also enable the first firefighters on the scene to undertake rescues or to stabilise the situation prior to the arrival of the rescue boats.
As part of the water rescue training, which around 470 firefighters in the County will be undertaking, the firefighters will learn how to use a range of new equipment which include life jackets, an improved design of thrown line, quick release waist harness for rescuers entering the water, a rescue harness to secure casualties, an inflatable hose system enabling lengths of hose to be joined together and pushed out to casualties, and ‘cow tail’ lines to secure pump operators to their appliances when pumping from lakes and canals.