News Talk 94.1/AM 1600 Where The Upper Cumberland Talks
The recently formed DeKalb County Water Rescue Task Force has completed its first round of training.
EMA Director Charlie Parker said the 20-hour swift water rescue course at Rock Island serves as the first of many.
“We’re getting calls several weekends throughout the summer below the dam with the kayakers down there, and then we have other creeks around the county just from flooding that would be high that we got vehicles stuck in,” Parker said. “The need has just been growing.”
Parker said about 20 emergency workers from multiple DeKalb agencies make up the task force. Parker said the plan is to participate in quarterly training to start gaining advance skills.
“We had gone to our county commission earlier this year I think in March and addressed them with the need,” Parker said. “Our county commission put fourth some money to pay for additional training. We completed the first session and of course, there will be ongoing training as we go on.”
Parker said the training at Rock Island covered basic swiftwater situations. Parker said members learned about water safety and rescue techniques.
“The initial training was learning the safety aspects of the proper gear to wear and how to use it,” Parker said. “Then, we started with basically in the water training on how to enter the water. We moved on to self-rescues for the rescuers themselves if they get in trouble in the water, and we also got into rescuing other people.”
Parker said the task force looks forward to serving the residents of DeKalb County.
