Mud Rescue Training

[TVFR9923]

This is going on in my neck of the woods (Oregon). It's not exactly dive or water rescue, but it is related. I thought some of you may be interested, so I'am posting it here.

http://www.kgw.com/home/LO-crews-train-for-mud-rescues-104315229.html

[BULL321]

Supply some adults beverages, and the Swedish Bikini teams and I'll be there with bells on!

[ADSNWFLD]

We use a tool called the rescue mat, it will allow an adult firefighter to walk on water and works even better for this scenario. We simply roll the mat out to the victim and remove him from the mud.

http://www.firstalertstore.com/store/products/rescue1-first-alert-rescue-mat.htm

We also use it for ice rescue, support for ice diving, and diver support for small boat based diving in calm water. (it is also fun to play with at drill)

[TVFR9923]

[QUOTE=BULL321;1210958]Supply some adults beverages, and the Swedish Bikini teams and I'll be there with bells on! [/QUOTE

I'll supply the adult beverages if you can get the Swedish Bikini Team!

[TVFR9923]

We use a tool called the rescue mat, it will allow an adult firefighter to walk on water and works even better for this scenario. We simply roll the mat out to the victim and remove him from the mud.

http://www.firstalertstore.com/store/products/rescue1-first-alert-rescue-mat.htm

We also use it for ice rescue, support for ice diving, and diver support for small boat based diving in calm water. (it is also fun to play with at drill)

That looks like it could work well. Have you used it on actual calls, or just in training? Also, it appears kind of large. Do you have it in your vehicle all the time, or just "in season"?

[ADSNWFLD]

The rescue mat is in our water rescue trailer, it sits rolled up in our inflatable boat, inside the trailer. If the boat is needed we just take it out and leave it standing next to the trailer. Our trailer is the primary response vehicle for all mutual aid responses, in town our heavy rescue has a few sets of gear and the trailer follows up with another crew hooking it and bringing it to the scene. It is generally 10 to 15 minutes behind the rescue.

To date the rescue mat hasn't been used on any actual mud rescues in our jurisdiction, just training. We have used it to assist in an ice rescue and several dives.

[jeeves1]

UK Fire services have been using "Rescue paths" for years.They work trust me! These ones inflate off a 1 Hr cylinder, in about 30 seconds.Are 15M long each and can be interconnected.They rool up as the others do and can be inflated from the bankside rolled.Will roll out while inflating.excellent for mud rescue and anwhere you need to spread the load, ie trench collapse acesss. Think they were invented by actual firefighters and not some scientist in a lab somewhere.they are permantly stowed on the rescue tenders along with dry suits throw lines