Water rescue training prepares volunteers for emergencies
Jet ski operator Josiah Vanderwall at a water rescue training session last weekend. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Zack Vanderwall and Brian Reed in a new water rescue inflatable boat. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Plains-Paradise Fire District Chief James Russell. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Plains ambulance crew members Joel Banhan and Jesse Behmerwohld treat patient Jace Russell during a water rescue training session. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Water rescue crew members, from left, Brian Reed, Zack Vanderwall, James Russell and Josiah Vanderwall. (Tracy Scott/Valley Press)
Plains-Paradise Rural Fire District and Plains Community Ambulance spent last Saturday sharpening their skills on water rescue techniques. Saturday was the first time both agencies have worked extensively together on just water rescue training.
Seth Gibbs, Training Manger for Plains Community Ambulance, was in charge of the overall training. Gibbs had several goals for the training.
Number one was to train together. Number two was to help volunteers remember what their roles may be and that the goal might look different at times but they are still needed. Number three was for volunteers to understand the type of scenarios they might respond to. Number four was to know how to do the work safely and last, to remember the resources and how to use them.
Fire Chief James Russell was also on hand to manage his side of the training. The Plains Paradise Rural Fire District supplied all the water rescue equipment, including jet skis and an inflatable boat that was recently purchased.
Russell said that thanks to public donations, the fire district now has the ability to safely perform water rescues. He also said that those donations also equipped the water rescue personnel with cold water suits and all the related equipment.
A total of six training scenarios evaluated both water rescuers and ambulance first responders with real-life scenarios. Those ranged from stranded uninjured rescues, lost youth, injured individuals and life-threatening rescues.
Several community volunteers helped play the parts of stranded and injured tourists. Bridger Bauer, Jordan Bray and two of Chief Russell’s children, Emmy Russell and Jace Russell, each gave up their Saturday to help in the exercise.
The ambulance crew volunteers were Larry Neilson who has 43 years of fire and ambulance experience, Deb Banham, Jen Fratzke, Lyle Fisher, Emma Mortenson, Joel Banhan and Jesse Behmerwohld.
The water rescue crew were Team Leader Zack Vanderwall, Brian Reed, Sonya Black and Josiah Vanderwall.
At the conclusion of the exercises, Training Manager Gibbs said, “It was very successful.” Chief Russell commented, “the training went fantastic and hit our objectives.” Plains Community Ambulance volunteer Larry Neilson said, “it was good to have the training, we learn more each time we do this. We can’t get enough training. We learn more each time.”
