By Deborah Wolfe
The Lake Today
http://thelaketoday.com/articles/2010/08/26/exclusive/124exclusive05shootoutdivers10.txt
Firefighters dive into rescue
Dive teams train to ensure safe Shootout event
By Deborah Wolfe
The Lake Today
When rubber hits the pavement, the wheels of local fire vehicles normally speed through winding Ozark roads on their way to save the day. But emergencies in a Lake community often require maneuvers above and beyond everyday rescue attempts, especially during the largest non-sanctioned powerboat race in the world.
Hovering mere feet from the choppy waters of the Lake of the Ozarks, rescue helicopters act as "angelic" transportation for scuba-clad teams of emergency personnel ready to dive to the rescue of Lake of the Ozark Shootout racers.
"Divers are a key part of the rescue team," Mid-County Fire Protection District Capt. Jim Wilson said. "If a boat flips, the divers are the only ones who can get in and get the crew out."
A joint effort of the Mid-County Fire Protection District and Lake Ozark Fire Department dive teams, the 12-man crew recently immersed itself in the intricacies of airborne deployment.
Many local emergency departments combine their efforts on land and water to protect both racers and spectators at the two-day event. But this will be the first year Lake Area dive teams tackle the challenging task of propelling themselves from a helicopter to rescue submerged race crews.
It is not for the faint of heart.
"Timing is everything and the pilot has a lot of risk involved," Wilson said. "It is all calculated risk and preparing for that risk is essential."
Managing risk means supplementing ongoing dive training with an intensive course in airborne dive deployment. This was the mission of a dozen members of local rescue department dive teams on a recent day of training aboard the Vinson Mortgage Group helicopter.
Headquartered in St. Louis, the mortgage company founded by Ray Vinson frequently lends the corporate helicopter and pilot for use at charitable events. Vinson currently enjoys Lake living with a second home and business in the area.
Pilot Tom Demos conveyed Vinson's strong desire to contribute to the Lake community.
"Any time we have the opportunity to do charity events, we like to put the chopper on display for the kids to come out and see," Demos said. "Ray feels fortunate to have the funds to contribute to various charities and to be part of the Lake community. We appreciate the opportunity to support the rescue personnel in the Lake Area."
The contribution is deeply appreciated by the divers who relied on Vinson's generosity for the life-saving training.
"You're talking a significant financial contribution in the pilot, fuel and training time that doesn't even include the volunteer hours of the fire fighters," Wilson said. "We basically needed to spend time with the pilot. When you send two men out of a chopper, if it isn't timed correctly, it can throw the chopper off and cause some issues.
"We've taken extensive classes in diving over the years and they stress that the helicopter is the last resort of rescue because it is risky. But with the right training, it is all risk that can be minimized."
Things can happen quickly for an air-sea rescue crew. Once the two- to three-man unit is dispatched to a capsized boat, time becomes critical. As the helicopter approaches the capsized boat, the pilot focuses his senses on his instruments, maintaining control of the aircraft as it hovers precariously close to the water's surface. A member of the Osage Beach Police Department will act as a spotter, appraising Demos and the divers of the situation in the water.
"We can be on the boat in 15 seconds or less and begin life support immediately, if needed," Demos said. "There is so much going on in the helicopter even without divers on board, it is imperative to have a second pair of eyes and divers with the presence of mind to do their job."
Kenneth J. Solosky described air-sea rescue procedures in his article "Aviation Air-Sea Rescue Units: The challenge, the training, the teamwork" for Officer. com.
"Once the first diver deploys, the rescue crew chief waits for a signal from the first diver. If the diver indicates they are safe, the second diver will be deployed. Once again, the rescue crew chief performs a last minute visual inspection, and indicates to the diver it is safe to deploy.
"After deployment of the divers, the helicopter will move back and to the left, allowing the pilot in command and the rescue crew chief the ability to maintain visual contact with the divers or at least, the target boat. They are also awaiting hand signals from the divers for the appropriate equipment they need, such as a rescue basket or penetrator, a SCUBA recovery device. If a victim is to be hoisted, the rescue crew chief must ready the cabin for the victim. Once hoisted on board, the rescue crew chief begins emergency medical treatment and still has to recover the divers. It's easy to see how complex and intense the rescues can become."
Demos explained that Shootout rescue divers are trained to administer medical care and stabilize accident victims in water until emergency boats can get to the scene, relieving the need for a helicopter hospital transport. A system points to the complexities of managing emergency rescue services for an event that incorporates land, air and sea.
The combined effort relies on the resources of at least six Lake Area emergency districts, including Sunrise Beach, Mid-County Fire Protection District, Lake Ozark, Osage Beach, Gravois Mills and the North West Fire Protection District located in Rocky Mount. In addition to airborne support, eight fireboats, medical staff, paramedic response teams, boat operators and command-center personnel ensure the entire Shootout area is wrapped in a net of safety.
"Once we are on site, we will work in the command post to ensure that divers are in place if an accident happens so that they can coordinate efforts whether it involves racers or boaters watching along the course," Wilson said, stressing the gratitude local emergency personnel feel for the event that was created 22 years ago on their behalf.
"Our team's entire livelihood depends on this event," Wilson said. "We just purchased $30,000 worth of equipment with Shootout proceeds that would not have happened without the fundraiser."
Wilson also gave high praise to fellow emergency responders and credited Mark Amsinger and the Lake Ozark Fire Department dive team for their significant contribution to the rescue effort. Local agencies often combine training exercises to better coordinate emergency measures in the field.
"If anything, it benefits us by the two agencies working together," Wilson said. "Mutual aid training is critical to our job, and the Lake Ozark crew is an exceptional team."
Every three years, Lake Ozark and Mid-County dive teams receive additional training from Life Guard Systems, a water-rescue company based in New York.
Wilson added a note of gratitude to the Angel rescue divers his team worked with during the Offshore Super Series National Championship races.
"I have tremendous respect for what they do," Wilson said. "They are also firefighters who take time out from their personal lives to travel to the races. We'd be happy to have them back anytime."
While he readily admits he will feel a twinge of jealousy as he watches his crew take to the skies from his post in the land-based command center, Wilson stressed the primary goal is to reassure all Shootout racers have an "angel" flying over their shoulder.
"I actually won't be an airborne guy during the Shootout but I participated in the exercise and it was a blast," Wilson said. "But most importantly, it's about saving lives."
By Deborah Wolfe
The Lake Today
When rubber hits the pavement, the wheels of local fire vehicles normally speed through winding Ozark roads on their way to save the day. But emergencies in a Lake community often require maneuvers above and beyond everyday rescue attempts, especially during the largest non-sanctioned powerboat race in the world.
Hovering mere feet from the choppy waters of the Lake of the Ozarks, rescue helicopters act as "angelic" transportation for scuba-clad teams of emergency personnel ready to dive to the rescue of Lake of the Ozark Shootout racers.
"Divers are a key part of the rescue team," Mid-County Fire Protection District Capt. Jim Wilson said. "If a boat flips, the divers are the only ones who can get in and get the crew out."
A joint effort of the Mid-County Fire Protection District and Lake Ozark Fire Department dive teams, the 12-man crew recently immersed itself in the intricacies of airborne deployment.
Many local emergency departments combine their efforts on land and water to protect both racers and spectators at the two-day event. But this will be the first year Lake Area dive teams tackle the challenging task of propelling themselves from a helicopter to rescue submerged race crews.
It is not for the faint of heart.
"Timing is everything and the pilot has a lot of risk involved," Wilson said. "It is all calculated risk and preparing for that risk is essential."
Managing risk means supplementing ongoing dive training with an intensive course in airborne dive deployment. This was the mission of a dozen members of local rescue department dive teams on a recent day of training aboard the Vinson Mortgage Group helicopter.
Headquartered in St. Louis, the mortgage company founded by Ray Vinson frequently lends the corporate helicopter and pilot for use at charitable events. Vinson currently enjoys Lake living with a second home and business in the area.
Pilot Tom Demos conveyed Vinson's strong desire to contribute to the Lake community.
"Any time we have the opportunity to do charity events, we like to put the chopper on display for the kids to come out and see," Demos said. "Ray feels fortunate to have the funds to contribute to various charities and to be part of the Lake community. We appreciate the opportunity to support the rescue personnel in the Lake Area."
The contribution is deeply appreciated by the divers who relied on Vinson's generosity for the life-saving training.
"You're talking a significant financial contribution in the pilot, fuel and training time that doesn't even include the volunteer hours of the fire fighters," Wilson said. "We basically needed to spend time with the pilot. When you send two men out of a chopper, if it isn't timed correctly, it can throw the chopper off and cause some issues.
"We've taken extensive classes in diving over the years and they stress that the helicopter is the last resort of rescue because it is risky. But with the right training, it is all risk that can be minimized."
Things can happen quickly for an air-sea rescue crew. Once the two- to three-man unit is dispatched to a capsized boat, time becomes critical. As the helicopter approaches the capsized boat, the pilot focuses his senses on his instruments, maintaining control of the aircraft as it hovers precariously close to the water's surface. A member of the Osage Beach Police Department will act as a spotter, appraising Demos and the divers of the situation in the water.
"We can be on the boat in 15 seconds or less and begin life support immediately, if needed," Demos said. "There is so much going on in the helicopter even without divers on board, it is imperative to have a second pair of eyes and divers with the presence of mind to do their job."
Kenneth J. Solosky described air-sea rescue procedures in his article "Aviation Air-Sea Rescue Units: The challenge, the training, the teamwork" for Officer. com.
"Once the first diver deploys, the rescue crew chief waits for a signal from the first diver. If the diver indicates they are safe, the second diver will be deployed. Once again, the rescue crew chief performs a last minute visual inspection, and indicates to the diver it is safe to deploy.
"After deployment of the divers, the helicopter will move back and to the left, allowing the pilot in command and the rescue crew chief the ability to maintain visual contact with the divers or at least, the target boat. They are also awaiting hand signals from the divers for the appropriate equipment they need, such as a rescue basket or penetrator, a SCUBA recovery device. If a victim is to be hoisted, the rescue crew chief must ready the cabin for the victim. Once hoisted on board, the rescue crew chief begins emergency medical treatment and still has to recover the divers. It's easy to see how complex and intense the rescues can become."
Demos explained that Shootout rescue divers are trained to administer medical care and stabilize accident victims in water until emergency boats can get to the scene, relieving the need for a helicopter hospital transport. A system points to the complexities of managing emergency rescue services for an event that incorporates land, air and sea.
The combined effort relies on the resources of at least six Lake Area emergency districts, including Sunrise Beach, Mid-County Fire Protection District, Lake Ozark, Osage Beach, Gravois Mills and the North West Fire Protection District located in Rocky Mount. In addition to airborne support, eight fireboats, medical staff, paramedic response teams, boat operators and command-center personnel ensure the entire Shootout area is wrapped in a net of safety.
"Once we are on site, we will work in the command post to ensure that divers are in place if an accident happens so that they can coordinate efforts whether it involves racers or boaters watching along the course," Wilson said, stressing the gratitude local emergency personnel feel for the event that was created 22 years ago on their behalf.
"Our team's entire livelihood depends on this event," Wilson said. "We just purchased $30,000 worth of equipment with Shootout proceeds that would not have happened without the fundraiser."
Wilson also gave high praise to fellow emergency responders and credited Mark Amsinger and the Lake Ozark Fire Department dive team for their significant contribution to the rescue effort. Local agencies often combine training exercises to better coordinate emergency measures in the field.
"If anything, it benefits us by the two agencies working together," Wilson said. "Mutual aid training is critical to our job, and the Lake Ozark crew is an exceptional team."
Every three years, Lake Ozark and Mid-County dive teams receive additional training from Life Guard Systems, a water-rescue company based in New York.
Wilson added a note of gratitude to the Angel rescue divers his team worked with during the Offshore Super Series National Championship races.
"I have tremendous respect for what they do," Wilson said. "They are also firefighters who take time out from their personal lives to travel to the races. We'd be happy to have them back anytime."
While he readily admits he will feel a twinge of jealousy as he watches his crew take to the skies from his post in the land-based command center, Wilson stressed the primary goal is to reassure all Shootout racers have an "angel" flying over their shoulder.
"I actually won't be an airborne guy during the Shootout but I participated in the exercise and it was a blast," Wilson said. "But most importantly, it's about saving lives."
