FDIC 2022 Preview: Fundamentals of Open Water Rescue

Lead Instructor: Chief Lifeguard-Paramedic Mike Hudson, Sea Bright (NJ) Ocean Rescue

Over the past few decades, the fire service has seen a major uptick in water rescue incidents. The modern-day firefighter is often placed in a position to effect aquatic rescue in dangerous waters and austere conditions with little training and even less real-time experience. This class is skills intensive and will provide a fundamental review, through hands-on practice, of the most current water rescue procedures and resuscitation methods employed by U.S. ocean/river rescue specialists. Participants will move through several water-based skills teaching stations in the morning, culminating with a series of realistic rescue scenarios during the second half of the day. As participant proficiency increases, so will the severity of the scenarios involving distressed civilians, submersed victims, and incapacitated rescue divers. Each scenario is meant to simulate situations that create common physical stressors associated with effecting a real water rescue along with the psychological factors associated with a worst-case scenario. High-performance resuscitation will be practiced throughout the course, with both fatal and nonfatal outcomes. Attendees will be in and out of the water all day, which requires them to have basic heads-up swimming ability and applicable functional fitness. Rookie and veteran water rescue technicians who complete the class will return to service better prepared to safely effect open water rescue and aggressively resuscitate those who have drowned.