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News
Shanksville Volunteer Fire Department Swift Water Ready
--June 9, 2006 | |
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The Shanksville Fire Department is increasing its water rescue capabilities, by adding a Swift Water Rescue Team to the ranks of the Dive and Ice Rescue Teams. The Department anticipates being certified and operational in swift water rescue by the close of June 2006. The training comes from a regional initiative to provide the right skills and equipment to emergency responders in swift water rescue following the devastating 2005 hurricane season. The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania is also a state prone to Spring-time flooding of many streams, rivers, and other bodies of water. Scott Grahn, an instructor in swift water rescue with the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission has generously donated his time and resources to the certification process in Shanksville.
On Thursday Grahn instructed team members at the Somerset Pool on proper rescue techniques. Team members learned about water entry, landlines, self rescue and hand signals. The last session of the class will be conducted under real rescue conditions in a swift moving stream.
The Shanksville Fire Department will work with other county swift water rescue teams to provide rescue and recovery operations not only at Lake Stonycreek and Indian Lake, but at other incidents county wide. In the event of a major national catastrophe, like Hurricane Katrina, swift water rescue team members could be called on to assist with mass rescue operations.
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Members of the fire department prepared to get wet.
Throwing rope bags was one of the skills taught at the pool. |
