The Emporia Fire Department’s Swift Water Rescue Team is done with its latest round of training.
Fire Capt. and team leader Ben Lienemann says the training this week was a refresher for most of the team members, but it was an introduction for people brand-new to the team.
Safe floating and throw bag procedures have also been included with the training at Soden’s Grove this week.
Lienemann says as much as 65 percent of water rescues happen after dark.
Lienemann also says the vast majority of his water rescue calls happen when people don’t follow the National Weather Service’s advice of “turn around, don’t drown.”
Swift Water Rescue Team members need at least a year of experience with Emporia Fire, solid swimming and rope-tying skills and an interest in helping the community with these types of emergencies. There are nearly 25 Fire Department staffers on the team.
