Owensboro Fire Department is expanding its rescue capabilities in a number of ways this year. As part of their 2020-21 budget, OFD is implementing swift water training programs as well as advanced EMT training.
According to Battalion Chief Colter Tate, OFD conducted swift water training years ago. Tate wanted to bring that program back this year, which would give firefighters the capability to perform an immediate water rescue.
“We’d be doing surface and subsurface rescue,” Tate said. “Here in Owensboro, we’d train in the Ohio River, lakes, ponds and pools. We might use facilities around the region.”
Right now OFD has a handful of swift water technicians, but Tate said he wants to see the fire department certify a higher number of rescue swimmers.
“We want to have people here 24 hours a day who can perform those rescues, who are familiar with all of the equipment,” he said.
OFD gets calls for water rescue several times a year, including assist calls from Owensboro Police Department for residents on the Glover Cary Bridge or for flooding within the city.
Tate said the have been on standby for the Air Show, and will be ready if they are needed at this year’s HydroFair.
“This training would allow us to more effectively perform those rescues,” he said. “This would allow us to put swimmers in areas that boats can’t get to.”
The training for inland rescue swimmers would last eight days, Tate said. Those who go through training will be required to perform a 25-meter underwater swim and a 25-meter rescue swim, and they must tread water for 15 minutes before being eligible to perform the swift water rescue test.
OFD also made room in this year’s budget for two cardiac machines and training that will give 10 additional firefighters the opportunity to become advanced EMTs. Currently, the department has three licensed paramedics, Tate said.
“This will give us additional capabilities to better serve the community. We can start certain medications and IV fluids,” he said. “We’d be able to administer D-50, or Dextro, for diabetics with low blood sugar.”
OFD budgeted for two cardiac machines and while advanced EMTs aren’t allowed to interpret the monitors, they can get to the scene early and transmit EKG data to the hospital.
Tate is hoping to start advanced EMT training in September. The training will last 10 months, ending in June 2021.
