Rescue Squad Much More Than Ambulances and Stretchers

The Whitehouse First Aid and Rescue Squad recently sent four members of its specialized Water Rescue Team, a part of the Rescue Services Unit, to tactical boat operator class to hone their skills in operating an inflatable rescue boat during emergencies. The Rescue Services Unit takes care of the “rescue” part of the first aid and rescue squad, specializing in vehicle rescues (think Jaws of Life), trench rescue, rope and tactical rescues, confined space rescues, in addition to their water rescue team.

The water rescue team responds several times a year to flooding incidents and is called to help neighboring communities when called for mutual aid assists to the Delaware and Round Valley. The team, currently made up of eleven members, uses a sixteen foot Zodiac boat with a 60 horsepower Mercury motor. The squad had a fourteen foot Quicksilver, this boat is now used by close by High Bridge Rescue Squad.

Members Jeremy Colby, Bob Rainey, Chris Schneider, and Matt Strohl attended from the Whitehouse Squad and were joined by members of the New Jersey State Police Marine Unit, the Wayne Police Department, Secaucus Fire, and the United States Navy. The course, titled Rescue/Tactical Boat Operator Course, was put on by the Zodiac Maritime Academy.

The three day course, held at Point Pleasant, covered topics from how to keep the inflatable rescue boats ready to respond to water rescue missions, boat operations, and rapid patient rescue. The students learned about equipment pre and post mission checks, safety, man overboard rescues, patient lifting techniques, pacing and towing. Drills were conducted including high speed slaloms.

Jeff Herzog, the squad’s Chief said this of the crew and the Rescue Services Unit, “These members are dedicated volunteers and professionals. They go above and beyond the minimum training required to be part of the squad, ever vigilant of the need to keep their skills sharp.”

More information about the Rescue Services Unit can be found at www.whitehouserescue.com.