New Diving Certification

[stkr00]

I had an exciting weekend. (Links are included)

I am on the local County Underwater Rescue Team, and we had a company called, Team LGS, come in and conduct training for us. The class is called, Rapid Deployment Search and Rescue/Recovery, and lasts for 3-1/2 days.

We have a lot of inland lakes with limited visibility so this was some really good training. On day one of the class, we had to put duct tape over our masks. We were allowed to have a 1/8" opening across it to help us see while on shore, but I can honestly say that it doesn't help you for shite while your underwater. This was the way we conducted all of our dives over the weekend. We had to do everything by feel while crawling along the bottom...my hands are still sore. It's interesting trying to figure out what things are when you can't see them.

We got to learn a lot of search techniques for locating objects or people. We also had to do several simulated rescues of the divers performing the searches. These were pretty intense scenarios. Team LGS has been doing this for a long time, and they have a lot of experience behind their training.

Just thought I'd share this, because I know we have a few other divers on the board. "justintime2" is also a Rescue Diver and Fire Fighter/EMT I think.

The new specialty certifications I received are:
PADI, Rapid Deployment SARR Diver
PADI, Blackwater Diver

 

[VaBusa]

That is AWESOME! Sounds like a lot of work and a field that would certainly take a special kind of person...the thought of "feeling" my way around on the bottom during a recovery mission is just too much to stomach...

Kudos to you and JT2 for doing this kind of work...hope it's more RESCUE than RECOVERY...

Congrats!

 

[scottybusa]

I think I'm with Michelle on the whole "feeling" thing. Guess I've seen too many scary movies!!!!!

Sounds like a great time, though. I miss diving. I haven't strapped on a tank in years.

Thanks for the post.

Scott

 

[stkr00]

I don't know how I'll react the first time I actually have to "Recover" someone, or how much therapy will be needed. It may very well be the last time I ever dive for the Rescue Team.

It's just one of those things that you know is coming eventually, but try not to think about too much. Kinda like working on the Fire Dept and having to cut people out of cars...You didn't put them there, but they need your help, so it's just a job you have to do. There's also the family of that person that needs your help in getting closure for themselves.

We'll see how it goes.

Now I just need to get my Dry-Suit and Ice Diver specialties, and I'm set.

 

[justintime2]

stkr00,
Sounds like your doing a great job with your training, keep it up! Had two call outs for our dive team last night alone. Things are really getting busy in our town, for some reason this year has been busier than all others. Carefully consider whether you are willing to risk your diving as enjoyment for doing this. It is very fullfilling doing something that most others won't and being a specialist when needed, but what you see can ruin you for diving afterwards, even recreationally. I am sure you will be fine as most people are capable of far more than they think they are and I am sure you will be no different. Just something to ponder though...

 

[justintime2]

hope it's more RESCUE than RECOVERY...

Would be nice if that were the case. Unfortunately it only takes a couple of minutes for the process of drowning to run its course and quite a few more for us to respond.

Quick story about rescue and luck for a call out about a month ago:
Short version is dad, high on cocaine, decides to take his two kids approx. 4 & 9, out in a small aluminum boat with white plastic lawn chairs for all to sit on. He can't swim and neither can the kids, no life jackets on any of them. It is just getting dark and is on a small lake. Kid #1 goes overboard, dad jumps in after him and promptly goes straight to the bottom without returning. Neighbor heres screaming gets in small boat and goes over, getting dark now and hard to see, he pulls kid #1 from the water and notices something lightly splash several yards from the boat. Goes over and shines flashlight down into the water to see kid #2 with his hand reaching up, but still underwater, and sinking, he is pulled up to safety by the neighbor. A mere second seperated this child from life and death, he was lucky, dad was not. We recovered dad about an hour later lying supine on the bottom in about 45ft. of water.

Usually not just one thing that goes wrong when someone dies in the water, but a culmination of things colliding at the same time. You can look at the story above and see which ones they are.

 

[BulletTrain]

Congrats man. I've always thougth I'd like diving. You said a mouth full when you mentioned providing closure to the victims' families, man. I've been on a few drownings. That's a horrible call to go to.

 

[Pipefighter248]

Congrats on the Cert.

 

[stkr00]

stkr00,
Sounds like your doing a great job with your training, keep it up! Had two call outs for our dive team last night alone. Things are really getting busy in our town, for some reason this year has been busier than all others. Carefully consider whether you are willing to risk your diving as enjoyment for doing this. It is very fullfilling doing something that most others won't and being a specialist when needed, but what you see can ruin you for diving afterwards, even recreationally. I am sure you will be fine as most people are capable of far more than they think they are and I am sure you will be no different. Just something to ponder though...

I understand what your saying about how it might change my enjoyment of diving. I hope it doesn't, but it's a chance I'll have to take. There's always a little aprehension about what is waiting for me out there.

It's hard to explain why I want to do this. It's not like I'm into morbid stuff. I just like being involved in the Public Safety organization. To me it's a rewarding feeling knowing that you're able to provide help to those in need.

Of course, it would be even better if I were getting paid to do this.

Hope this made sense. It's hard to put this stuff into words.

 

[justintime2]

I understand perfectly what you are saying. The following by the grandfather of Dive Rescue sums it up pretty well!

What Is A Public Safety Diver

Public Safety Divers are human, believe it or not - just like the rest of us.  They come in various sizes and shapes and speak with as many accents and languages as there are lakes and rivers.

Public Safety Divers are found everywhere; in the large cities, rural communities and at most departmental budget meetings.  The best way to get one is to pick up the telephone.

Public Safety Divers deliver lectures, diving equipment and bad news.  They’re expected to have the wisdom of Solomon, the abilities of Superman and the generosity of Santa Claus.

In the movies, Public Safety Divers/Dive Rescue Specialists are easy to spot.  You see them hanging from helicopters and cliffs over some treacherous waterfall or rescue scene.  In real life, they’re found hanging around near a telephone -- even on Sundays, ‘cause that’s when it usually rings...just after company has arrived and the barbecue has been lit.

Public Safety Divers are a lot of things.  When they make a rescue, they’re heroes.  When they complete a body recovery, they’re too late!  When they’re paid for their work, they’re “doing it for the money...anybody can see that!†and when they’re volunteers, they’re crazy ‘cause “What person in their right mind would volunteer to do a job like that anyway?â€

Public Safety Divers are happy family people - many of them raising children - until that fateful Sunday afternoon when the child they raise is from a lake, fifty feet deep.  Then they are sad.

Public Safety Divers see more sunrises, sunsets, lakes, rivers, swamps, cesspools and misery than anyone else.  Like the mailman, they must be out in all kinds of weather.  Their rubber suits change color and materials with the seasons, but their outlook on life remains mostly the same... “trying our best and hoping for the day we can make a difference.â€

Public Safety Divers like hot coffee on cold missions.  They also like friendship, laughter, and a hearty handshake.  They dislike liquor in boats, children without personal floatation devices and drunks that drive their cars into the water.

Public Safety Divers get medals for saving lives, recovering children from icy waters, and diving in hazardous conditions.
Sometimes Their widow gets the medal.

But, after all the sunrises and sunsets, the lakes and the cesspools, the training and the 4:00 a.m. callouts, once in a while the most rewarding moment comes when the mission is over and out of the crowd a stranger walks up, embraces the Diver and whispers a heart-felt: “God bless you,†and “thank you, you have helped.â€

These insightful comments on the role of the Public Safety Diver, by Cpl. Bob Teather R.C.M.P.

The last sentence happened to me earlier this year when we were called out to find a 2yom who went into the river. This photo unfortunately was captured by the newspaper photographer. It is taken just moments after we called off the diving efforts. I had gotten out of the water and this is the Aunt of the 2yo coming out to thank us for our work, albeit unsucessfull. They actually watched the whole operation from the living room of their home and saw how many hours/dives we put in. It is definitely something you don't forget and makes it worthwhile.

Not trying to jack your thread but thought you may find it interesting considering your Dive Team pursuits. If you want more info you can click my web link or drop me a line. Stay in touch and let me know how things go for you!

 

[stkr00]

That is exactly it.

Thanks for posting that. I don't see that as thread jacking at all. I'm going to print it out and post it in the dive shop...if you don't mind.

 

[Wag]

Congrats boss! I couldn't pass the testing when I took the classes for Open Water (Padi). Freaked out at 30'.

Kudos!

--Wag--

 

[justintime2]

That is exactly it.

Thanks for posting that.  I don't see that as thread jacking at all.  I'm going to print it out and post it in the dive shop...if you don't mind.

Don't mind at all. It is on my website and I certainly didn't come up with it, although I believe in it!

 

[wizard]

..Padi Divemaster here..


Kudos & congrats for the cert-I had had the Rescue ages ago.. ..seems it's time to do a brush-up..


..and thanks for reminding us all how important it is to have someone who "knows and cares" out there..

 

[justintime2]

Just getting this unstuck from "13" replies, that's just unlucky!

 

[Mrs. Revlis]

Congrats! Guys like you are sincerely appreciated.

 

[stkr00]

Thanks Mrs.Revlis,wizard, and justintime2

Went to my first actual callout Sunday morning at 3:30am, but turned out to be a drunk in his boat running off into the cat-tails.  They called us out because they heard a female voice away from the boat.  Turned out to be one of the ladies at the party he just left that was yelling from the shoreline.

We were ready, but luckily we were not needed.  Stupid Drunks

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[justintime2]

Congrats on your first call-out!

You will get those BS calls and will start to get a nose for them before even getting there by just hearing the dispatch info.

On one lake call-out we had, a drunk hit some old dock pilings at 1am in the morning at high speed and was ejected from the boat/water up to the shore, boat sank. He could not account for his 2 friends that were on the boat with him. Got in the water at about 1:45am and I found a trail of tools and boat stuff leading right up to the boat which was upside down. The only thought I had in my mind was that scene in jaws where the guys head pops out from the hole in the boat and scares the crap out of Richard Dryefus and anyone watching the movie! Took a couple of deep breaths, went to my happy place, and went in for a look. Nothing but busted boat. Turns out the guy was so drunk he forgot that he had dropped his passengers off at a dock just down the lake.

Not to fun loosing sleep for that kind of crap.  

I will stop jacking your thread with all this crap since it was about your training and dive stuff, not mine. What an ego...  

 

[stkr00]

No problem jt2

The stories are interesting, and that's why I started this thread. Maybe I should start another thread called, "Diving Stories".

Then again, there's no telling where people would take that.

Better call it "SCUBA Diving Stories".

 

[tbonebusa]

Then again, there's no telling where people would take that.

 Better call it "SCUBA Diving Stories".

We do seem to wander off topic a bit lately, don't we??

Good on you, STKR, guys like you and JIT2 make this a better place to be.... thanks!!