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04-01-2010 Fire/Rescue Newsletter |
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Fire Rescue Newsletter - April '10
Swiftwater rescue is a field of knowledge that is increasingly important to be versed in. This is of particular concern in Texas due to the fact that Texas has more swiftwater related civilian deaths than any other state in the nation. It is critical that emergency responders be knowledgeable, trained and prepared when operating in a flood prone region.
Major flooding events are often difficult to respond to without outside assistance. Normally, nearby neighboring departments are able to assist in dealing with large scale hazards, but where floods are concerned, if one area is flooded, it is very likely that neighboring areas are flooded too. The STRAC Regional Rescue Team's objective is to provide a swift response to any flooding scenario that occurs in the 22 county region known as the "Trauma Service Area", coordinating with the Fire/EMS agencies and hospitals within it to deal with the situation, traditionally focusing on swiftwater rescue.
Monthly training is conducted and all STRAC team members are required to attend at least 50% of these sessions in order to remain members.
There are a variety of tools and techniques at the rescuer's disposal; helicopters, paddle boats, jet skis, power boats, rope, etc. But equally as important is the rescuer's personal equipment that allows them to perform their job safely. This equipment consists of their own personal flotation device, rescue helmet with a head light, and appropriate footwear for water environments such as OTB's water-draining Odhin or Abyss boots.
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