Great flood of 2016, Louisiana flooding, animal Rescue of Dogs by Cajun Navy

 

Shirley was trapped in the rising flood waters. We had to remove her from the flooded home along with all of her dogs. Cajun Navy at work. Louisiana Flood Footage. 

USCG Sector Columbia River Cape Kiwanda Rescue

 Rescue Watercraft (RWC) operators rescued February 1, 2016.

HIGH SURF ACCESSORIES’ RESCUE SLEDS OPEN PWC TO ALL NEW USES

 

Although 2-and-3 seater personal watercraft runabouts have been around since the late 1980s, adding a rescue sled for watercraft rescue is a fairly new concept. Because PWC are mostly used for recreational use around lakes, rivers and oceans, and manufacturers have expanded the original recreational use of PWC to include racing and towing for water sports (such as wakeboarding, wakeskating, tubing), tow rescue and tow surf by use of a tow board is something that is only a decade or two old (although big surf pioneer Randy Laine was doing it waaay earlier, but that’s a whole other story).

Through the use of a tow board, PWCs have gained additional traction with big game fishing and scuba diving/divers, in addition to dive rescue and reef exploration. Rescue sleds, such as those from High Surf Accessories (HSA), have opened up personal watercraft to a whole new world of use. In terms of swiftwater rescue, HSA states, “There is no such thing as too much power, just too much throttle. In fact, high horsepower makes navigation in a water current safer for all involved. ‘Slow is pro’ in swift water navigation especially with an attached tow board, and the ability to cautiously navigate fast currents, large waves and difficult gradients is paramount.

“The RWC’s low draft means less underwater obstruction contact and the ability to operate at lower water levels than outboard engines without decreasing performance. Obstructions become more difficult to identify during downstream navigation, and operators in the standard PWC standing position can identify obstructions easier and earlier than other watercraft. The combination of low draft and no exposed prop also allows PWC to maneuver closer to obstructions for search or rescue operations.”

 KEVIN SHAW The Watercraft Journal

5 Steps To A Safe Ice Rescue

 

Proper firefighter training, equipment, technique and awareness can reduce the dangers of ice rescues

In water rescue, there is a universally accepted rescue sequence:

1. Self rescue
2. Reach
3. Throw
4. Row
5. Go

Rescuers should be qualified and trained to perform the task they are preparing to undertake.

ANALYZE THE ICE RESCUE ENVIRONMENT

To avoid getting too in-depth about swift water environments, we'll focus on ice rescue on static or slow-moving current. I am a strong proponent of stating that a "go" rescue should never be performed on ice in which the water current is flowing greater than 1 knot without having some extraordinary conditions and precautions in place. 

This would include some very experienced and certified rescue swimmers, standby ice divers, water crafts, down-river rescuers, breach points in the ice and a very savable victim.

When we analyze this scene, we are trying to identify the victim, the victim's condition, any hazards present and the condition of the ice. If we can't locate the victim, we are looking for the hole in the ice, any tracks on the ice surface and any competent witness. 

When assessing the ice, we are primarily evaluating the path that the victim traveled before falling through. This is the most reliable path to the victim because it has already been traveled and supported their weight. All other surfaces are unknown until walked. 

If the ice is unstable and has floating and slushy segments, immediately call for an inflatable platform from which we can launch a rescue. This can be as simple as a rescue sled or swim board or as elaborate as an airboat or hovercraft.

Read More; Fire Rescue 1 by Dalan Zartman

Secret Service Agents on Jetski's as the Obamas hit the Water in Hawaii

The First Family have now officially hit the halfway point of their Hawaiian holiday and enjoyed a nice lie-in followed by an afternoon at the beach on the eighth day of their vacation.

However, while a regular bunch would just hit the sand and surf, the Obamas had their regular motorcade drop them at Bellows Air Force Station in Waimanalo, and Secret Service agents on wave runners circled them in the water.

The main task of the agents seemed to focus on stopping any other people in kayaks getting to close to the President, his wife and their two daughters. 

The officers could be seen telling different groups at the popular spot to turn around, as they sectioned off part of the water. 

There was also a strong contingent of local police on the ground. 

Rescuer Gets Swept Away During Swift Water Rescue in LA

 

A rescuer was swept away in the raging waters of the Los Angeles River Friday.

Video shows others trying to get the first responder out of the rushing water as he was moving rapidly past them.

NO SHORTAGE OF SPECIAL FORCES USING PERSONAL WATERCRAFT

 

Although there’s nothing official coming from either camps, being the OEMs or any branch of the United States Armed Forces, we know that the American military is 1) the most well-funded peace-keeping mechanism to have ever existed on this spinning ball we call home and 2) is not against using any form of technology that would provide them the best tactical upper hand.

That being said, high speed insertion/extraction vehicles have been in regular use for decades. According to a report on a special operations page, “One example of these activities occurred during the early 80’s, when Maritime Branch personnel trained Nicaraguan Contras to use of high speed boats for attacks against Sandinista shipping. They also stood by to launch underwater sabotage attacks against ships docked in Managua’s harbor. Another example occurred in early 1991. This time Maritime Branch operators instructed US military SOF in the use of modified jet skis for a possible hostage rescue mission during Operation Desert Storm.”

Read more; The Watercraft Journal