Kentucky Responders Practice Water Rescue

July 24--Unless it's summertime, not many persons venture into Kentucky's public waters unless they have to.

But during the hot months, persons of all ages can be found each day in rivers, lakes and creeks, creating opportunities for unexpected personal emergencies.

As a reminder that July is national water and safety month, a water safety and rescue training session was held last Saturday at Cave Run Lake.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, PHI Air Medical and Morehead-Rowan County Emergency Medical Service (EMS) combined efforts to sponsor the event.

Billy Marsh, flight paramedic for PHI Air Medical, said the primary focus was to provide a tactical practice for first responders to prepare them for emergency situations in the water.

First responders participated in an array of aquatic-based exercises, including immobilizing a trauma patient on a backboard with a cervical collar and cervical immobilization device in deep water, returning an overturned rescue boat to the upright position, emergency operations during a swift water rescue and the procedure to load a patient into an air medical helicopter during hot operations (engine running and rotor turning).

Though Marsh hopes they will not have situations in which emergency aquatic medical care is needed, he feels all must be as prepared as possible.

"Preparing for all emergencies allows for a better outcome and allows everyone to go home safely," Marsh added. "Water safety equals water fun and we want all to be safe."

Other agencies participating were Rowan County Water Rescue, Farmers Fire Department, 377 Fire Department, and Salt Lick Fire Department.

Marsh added that gift bags were provided by the Army Corps of Engineers and PHI for the kids who were in the area during the exercises.

The bags were filled with items such as hats, coloring books and handouts about water safety.

Copyright 2013 - The Morehead News, Ky.