Firefighters perform water rescue training
(Photo by Mary Malone) Bill McAdams, a 75-year-old volunteer with Selkirk Fire, Rescue and EMS, was one of the first in the water with full turnout gear during water rescue training Thursday at City Beach.
(Photo by Mary Malone) Selkirk Fire, Rescue and EMS Battalion Chief Kevin Amorebieta “rescues” Selkirk firefighter Jonah Pucci using a standup paddle board method during water rescue training Thursday.
(Photo by MARY MALONE) Selkirk Fire, Rescue and EMS Captain Britian Whitley smiles as he casually drops into the lake in full turnout gear during water rescue training Thursday.
(Photo by MARY MALONE) Eight Selkirk Fire, Rescue and EMS firefighters participated in water rescue training Thursday, which included submerging themselves in the lake at City Beach in full turnout gear, which weighs 60 pounds dry, and about 100 pounds wet.
(Photo by MARY MALONE) Eight Selkirk Fire, Rescue and EMS firefighters participated in water rescue training Thursday, which included submerging themselves in the lake at City Beach in full turnout gear and airpacks.
(Photo by MARY MALONE) Eight Selkirk Fire, Rescue and EMS firefighters participated in water rescue training Thursday, which included submerging themselves in the lake at City Beach in full turnout gear.
(Photo by MARY MALONE) Eight Selkirk Fire, Rescue and EMS firefighters participated in water rescue training Thursday, which included submerging themselves in the lake at City Beach in full turnout gear, which weighs 60 pounds dry, and about 100 pounds wet. They also practiced victim rescue using an inflatable standup paddle board. From left, Bernie Frechette, Gwen Le Tutour, Ethan Colby, Bill McAdam, Jeff Calhoun, Jonah Pucci, Kevin Amorebieta and Britian Whitley.
SANDPOINT — Fire and rescue personnel respond to all types of emergencies, some more often than others.
Water rescues, for example, such as drownings and boat fires, are more prevalent in the summer, so training is essential to practice and retain muscle memory for such events.
Eight Selkirk Fire, Rescue and EMS staff and volunteers participated in water rescue training Thursday at City Beach.
The purpose of the training, according to Selkirk Battalion Chief Kevin Amorebieta, is for firefighters to learn different techniques of what can help them if they fall in the water during an emergency situation, or if the firefighters and EMS crews have to jump in for some reason with their personal protective equipment on.
"We have a ton of marinas in the area, so any boat fires or marine fires, we are in full PPE stretching hose down the docks ... so if you fall in the water, with this training, it's not your first time," Amorebieta said.
Turnout gear adds about 60 pounds to the weight of a firefighter — when it's dry. When the firefighter ends up in the water with all that gear on, the turnouts weigh around 100 pounds.
Fortunately, firefighters have some immediate buoyancy from the air trapped in the turnouts.
I was amazed how easy it was to float," said Bill McAdams, Selkirk volunteer. "But you can't start moving around too much."
After a few minutes, the air escapes and it becomes difficult to stay afloat, and movement seems to accelerate the process.
Each firefighter first went in the lake in full turnouts without an airpack, staying afloat as long as possible. Then they each went in with an airpack. Because the turnouts lose buoyancy after a few minutes, they also had to remove the gear while in the water — they were all wearing swim shorts as well, though they probably would not have that luxury in an emergency situation.
Before starting the full PPE submersions, the group started out the training by airing up an inflatable paddle board. The specialized rescue boards are typically used in drowning situations, and Selkirk Captain Britian Whitley instructed the group on the two rescue methods — one flip or two.
The one-flip method is typically used for a victim in the water who is fatigued but can still help get themselves onto the board. The firefighter starts with the board upside down, then pulls the victim onto the board so their arms are across it and their head is out of the water. The firefighter then uses their own weight against the board to flip it rightside-up so the victim is laying across it. The victim is situated on the board and secured to the board if needed. Whitley said if they are near the shore, it is less likely the rescuer is going to use the straps to secure the victim to the board than if they are a greater distance from land.
The two-flip method is used in a situation where the victim is drowning "right now," Whitley said, and emergency personnel need to do more of the work on their own. The firefighter would start with the board rightside-up, grab the person's hands and flip it once to get their arms across it, and again to get their body onto the board.
Because they are inflatable, the boards are easy to store. Selkirk has a couple of the boards, and the easy storage allows them to keep one on the department's fireboat. The downfall with the boards is they take awhile to inflate, so Amorebieta said, if possible, it is important to air it up on the way to the scene so it is ready when they get there.
Each 48-hour shift rotation, Selkirk crews are required to perform two hours of training. Some of the training, like the water rescue scenario, is seasonal. In the winter, for example, they train for ice rescue, which Amorebieta said is similar to the water rescue training and includes a specialized, buoyant ice rescue suit for cold water.
Selkirk has not had to utilize the water rescue training this year, he said, and although he hopes they won't need to, the crew is ready and will continue to keep up their skills — just in case.
Mary Malone can be reached by email at mmalone@bonnercountydailybee.com and follow her on Twitter @MaryDailyBee.