I am OK

Do we, as water rescue response teams understand what it takes, mentally and physically, to make the total operation work? How do we get the most from our rescue personnel, while maintaining strict safety... 

The 15 minute Expert! PWC Operations

Personnel watercraft, are thrusting themselves into both the sport and public safety market at an unbelievable rate. The National Safe Boating Council states that more than 30% of all registered boats... 

Dressing divers and tenders for Mass Casualty Operations

In parts I and II we discussed the initial steps for becoming prepared to manage a mass casualty water-related disaster such as a bridge collapse with multiple vehicle submersions. Drill training sessions... 

Drysuit Tricks

For sport divers, drysuits offer a warm advantage that can be used to extend the diving season – possibly all year – and to extend the amount of time divers are actually able to spend in the water. ... 

Tenders in the PSD arena

As we talk about public safety diving (PSD) we hear a lot about the divers and their training or   types of equipment divers need to get the job done safely. But when it comes to tenders they often get... 

Technical Ice Diving

Technical Ice Diving The words “technical diving” are popping up all around the diving world these days. Sometimes I am not sure how they actually relate; does technical diving mean that we are just... 

Training is Key

Today’s Fire Rescue services are being tasked with more and more duties that require unique types of training, such as Haz-mat, confined space, vehicle extrication, and other specialties. Because drowning... 

Public Safety Diving in the new Millennium, part #2

Sitting on the river bank some 45 years ago watching my father teach many of the first Public Safety Divers I thought, this is as good as it gets. I remember thinking what PSD would be like fifty years... 

Public Safety Diving in the new Millennium, part #1

In the 80s, and even through the early 90s, it was an oddity or even exotic for a fire or police department to have a surface / subsurface water rescue team. As we rescue our way through the year 2000,... 

Underwater Vehicle Extraction

There Are no Flags In Underwater Vehicle Extraction The human senses are fully stimulated when a rescuer responds to a typical auto accident. The flags are up. The visual sense sees the twisted, collapsed... 

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