Firefighters Train for Swift Water Rescues

Breathitt County has six new certified swift water rescuers following an intensive three-day class.  

Six Jackson Volunteer Fire Department firefighters completed the twenty-hour swift water certification class in Prestonsburg on April 25-27.

The class, presented by the Floyd County Emergency and Rescue Squad, was a mixture of classroom and hands-on learning that placed rescuers in real-life situations while teaching lifesaving techniques. 

“This was an important class for us, in light of the flash floods and highwater events we have had in the past five years,” Jackson Fire Chief Chase Deaton said on Monday.  “We are here to save lives and to help our residents during times of need, but we have to continue to learn and improve ways of doing it even more safely for our responders.”  

The training included about fourteen hours of “in-water” experiences in the Lavisa Fork of the Big Sandy River and at Dewey Lake.  The training focused on victim recovery, extrication, safety, knots, rope controls, survival swims, and other techniques to work safely in fast-moving water during emergencies.  The skills presented included techniques to enter and exit a boat in emergencies, including fast-moving boat jumps, throw bags, and navigating river “strainers” and debris.

“This was a real eye-opener for us,” a firefighter who completed the course said.  “We learned a lot and are better prepared if we have more devastating flooding in the future.”

Six of the seven firefighters completed the course; one could not complete the demanding physical portions due to a previous injury.

The Jackson Fire Department recently purchased rescue equipment, safety clothing, and boats to help better serve the community. 

Deaton said he and the five other swift water rescuers were grateful for the free class presented by the Floyd County Rescue Squad.

The firefighters returned home on Sunday, tired, sore, and bruised, but better prepared to meet the community's needs during high-water events.

“We are constantly working to get better by training on new techniques and approaches to make our jobs safer and to ensure the safety of the people we serve in our community,” Deaton said.  “This class was tough, and we hope we never have to use the training, but if we do, we are ready.”