Marco Firefighters undergo Dive Rescue training

On Tuesday August 31, 2010 the Marco Island Fire Rescue Department conducted Dive Rescue training at the Marco Island YMCA pool. This training is designed to condition department Rescue Divers and to review SCUBA competencies. The Department’s Rescue Divers completed their annual swim test, consisting of the evaluation of a number of watermanship skills designed to test the divers’ stamina. The Annual Watermanship Test is developed by IARDS, International Association of Dive Rescue Specialists, in accordance with NFPA 1670 Standard on Operations and Training for Technical Search and Rescue Incidents. Utilizing the YMCA pool, Rescue Divers are required to complete the Watermanship Skills test with a passing score.

The skills test involves a:

• 500 meter forward stroke swim
• 800 meter snorkel / mask
  

  Marco Island Firefighter dons equipment for SCUBA testing. Photo by Jim Sousa

  swim
• 100 meter inert diver tow
• 15 minutes of treading water

Upon completion of the stamina test, the Divers then complete their annual basic SCUBA skills evaluation, which includes water entry, neutral buoyancy, descent / ascent procedures, buddy breathing and emergency ascent.

Following completion of the Watermanship and SCUBA skills, the training will continue over the next month in our area canals, reviewing search patterns, boat-based operations, line tender operations, and diver-to-surface communications.

All Marco Island Fire Rescue apparatus is equipped with dive rescue equipment and staffed with Firefighters who also perform as Rescue Divers. The Fire Rescue Department wishes to thank the Marco Island YMCA for the use of their facility to complete the training.

City of Marco Island Fire Rescue Department, 1280 San Marco Rd. 239-389-5040.