JUNE 2014 RESCUE TRAINING INTERNATIONAL MONTHLY NEWSLETTER Did you know? We get asked all the time what the difference between the three boat operator courses. This discussion only includes the three general areas. We will not be going into specialty boats in each area. Lake/Bay Rescue Boat Operator – the knowledge objectives and skills taught are intended to be used in static or near static waters. Meaning wind and tidal flows are the highest threat and concern for boat operations. The victim(s) will most likely not be traveling at all or much slower than in FAST or surf conditions. Most situations will have easier access and egress for the victim and boat crews. Rescue approaches are generally open from any direction or into the wind depending upon location and water conditions. Escape routes for the boat crew are generally easy. Flood And Swiftwater Rescue Boat Operator – the knowledge objectives and skills taught are intended to be used in static, eddy conditions, flood, moving or fast waters. Additional considerations for the boat crew and victim retrieval are affected by the location of the victim, where the victim could go, what is in the water around the victim, upstream and downstream water flow, debris, access and egress are the highest threat and concern for boat operations. The victim(s) could be traveling in any path and speed with many variables. There is also the added consideration that the FAST RBO crew could potentially be knocked out of their boat. Understanding hydrology as it will affect the victim, boat and crew is essential. Being able to deploy and/or self rescue as necessary is a pre-requisite (FAST R1). Rescue approaches are generally made going upstream (into the current) depending upon location and water conditions. Escape routes for the boat crew are limited and require operating skills. Surf Rescue Boat Operator – the knowledge objectives and skills taught are intended to be used in surf conditions. The victim, boat and boat crew will be affected by wind, tidal flows, water depth and surf conditions. The victim(s) position and direction of travel will be affected by surf, rip current, tidal flow, being on surface or submerged. Further offshore may allow different options than closer in shore where the waves are breaking. Rescue approaches are generally made in the trough depending upon victim(s) location and water conditions. The boat crew must understand timing and be ready for the next wave. Escape routes for the boat crew are limited and require operating skills. RESCUE STORY OF THE MONTH We will try to include a rescue story each month. If you have one you wish to share so others may enjoy / learn, please submit to rescuetx@hotmail. We WILL NOT include victim names, addresses or other personal information. RTI believes in victim’s/patient’s right to privacy. Here Piggy Piggy This story came by word of mouth from Ray Gregory, RTI Lead Instructor and owner of Leatherneck Search and Rescue Training; based in Victoria, Texas. This past weekend while teaching a FAST R1 on the Guadalupe River in Victoria, Texas, Ray was conducting some of the practical skills in a remote location on the Guadalupe River. The river levels had been down due to the drought conditions so bank access was a little more difficult than normal. Ray indicated that during one of the swim exercises, he saw a family of wild pigs enter the river and swim across to the other bank. Mama pig and several of the piglets made it across and up onto the other bank. However, the littlest piggy made it across but could not get up the bank. Ray eventually decided to intervene and rescue the piglet. He swam down and caught the piglet and tried to put it up on the shore. Mama pig was apparently not impressed with Ray’s help and kept coming up to talk to Ray. Ray was able to get the piglet up and onto the bank. Ray Gregory Lead RTI Instructor Leatherneck Search And Rescue Training If you have participated in a rescue or have a good training story you would like to share, please forward them to us for the next newsletter. Rescuetx@hotmail PRODUCT REVIEW One issue on PPE that is always addressed at every FAST class is the wearing of gloves in a swift water rescue. We as instructors tell the students that if they choose to wear gloves, that they should wear them not only when its cold out and during a rescue, but to wear them whenever they are training no matter what type of weather. This is so that they can get used to wearing the gloves and get used lose dexterity, the bulkiness. I feel I have found a pair of gloves that will suite most of the needs in a swift water situation. I found theses gloves in the sporting goods department in Walmart in the fishing section. Ive used them for fishing, like they were intended to be used, when one day I decided to see how they would do in tying knots. They work wonderful, no loss of dexterity and they were note bulky and they were intended to be used in water and slippery survives. I then tested them in a couple classes and I am very happy with them. I was able to tie the clove hitch under water with them, grab a hold of sharp and slipper rock, trees and not get cut and not lose my grip. Also, as we know that a wet throw line can slip through our hand; not with these gloves, with the texture coating on the palms, I did not have a line slip through my hands. For the price they can’t be beat, the only down site I found is that they do not offer much in way of thermal protection, but unless it’s a wet suite glove, what gloves does in the water. I paid $8.00 for them and they can be found in pretty much any sporting goods store. I highly recommend them! Ray Gregory Leatherneck Search and Rescue The GSAR 2 class scheduled for June 21-22, 2014 will be held at Camp Mabry in Austin, Texas. The class is currently full with an 8 person waiting list. The next scheduled GSAR 2 class is September 27-28, 2014 at Camp Swift outside Bastrop, Texas. The waiting list registrants will have the first slots available in that class. Currently scheduled courses for 2014 June 6-8, 2014 – FAST R1 – New Braunfels, Texas – OPEN June 13-14, 2014 – FAST R2 – New Braunfels, Texas – OPEN June 16,17-18, 2014 - FAST R1 – Seguin Fire Dept - New Braunfels, Texas – OPEN June 21-22, 2014 – GSAR 2 – TEXSAR – Camp Mabry, Austin, Texas – Class FULL June 23-24, 2014 – FAST 1 Recert Only – Shawnee FD - New Braunfels, Texas – Recerts Only June 25-26, 2014 – FRBO 1 Recert Only – Shawnee FD - New Braunfels, Texas – Recerts Only June 28-29, 2014 – GSAR 1 – TEXSAR – Dallas/Ft Worth area, Texas (Will Boettner Lead Instructor) July 11-13, 2014 – FAST R1 – New Braunfels, Texas - OPEN July 18-19, 2014 – FAST R2 – New Braunfels, Texas – OPEN July 19-20, 2014 – VRT 1 – Bexar County ESD 5 – Somerset, Texas - FULL July 21-22, 2014 – VRT 2 – Gainesville, Texas - FULL July 23-24, 2014 – VRT 3 – Gainesville, Texas – FULL July 26-27, 2014 – VRT 2 – Bexar County ESD 5 – Somerset, Texas - FULL July 29-31, 2014 – LPWC 1 – Saratoga Springs Fire Rescue - Saratoga Springs, Utah August 2-3, 2014 – VRT 3 – Bexar County ESD 5 – Somerset, Texas - FULL August 8-10, 2014 – FAST R1 – New Braunfels, Texas – FULL August 15-16, 2014 – GSAR 1- TMAR, Bastrop, Texas – FULL August 22-23, 2014 – FAST R2 – New Braunfels, Texas - OPEN August 30-31, 2014 – Lake Rescue Boat Operator – Lake Palestine, Texas – OPEN September 12-14, 2014 – FAST R1 – New Braunfels, Texas – OPEN September 27-28, 2014 – GSAR 2- TMAR, Bastrop, Texas – Open October 3-5, 2014 – FAST R1 – New Braunfels, Texas - OPEN October 10-12, 2014 – Texas Rope Rescue Competition – Garner State Park November 7-9, 2014 – FAST R1 – New Braunfels, Texas - OPEN If anyone is interested in used rescue boats, or other gear, call the office. We usually have leads on gear or know someone that might. There are several items that will become requirements starting January 2014: - Registering for classes - Pre-registration at least 1 week prior to class will pay standard rate. - Late registrations will pay an additional 10% of course cost. - Discounts for groups will only apply if all registrations are in before the 1 week deadline. - Discounts only apply to new student prices - We send out class information, location, times, weather forecast and more to the email listed on the application. - Travel classes (where we come to you) must have a completed contract 2 weeks in advance. - RTI prices will remain the same for 2014 but will increase $50 per course in 2015 One day classes will increase from $105 to $155 Two day classes will increase from $205 to $255 Two and one half (FAST R1) day classes will increase from $255 to $305 Three day classes will increase from $305 to $355 DISCOUNT RATES FOR 2014: 15% for 11-20 students 20% for 21- 30 Students 30% for 31+ Students To qualify for discount rates: 1. Must be pre-registered 2. Must maintain the minimal number for the percentage 3. Discounts are for NEW students only 15% Discount for all branches of the US and State Military active and reserve. IF YOU WISH TO BE REMOVED from the RTI monthly email newsletter or any of the alert sections; send the email and name with “remove me from newsletter” and we will take you off. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- RTI has just completed moving to a new physical location. All mailing will still go to the PO Box 312607, New Braunfels, Texas 78130. If you have any UPS, USPS or other shipping needs, please contact the office for delivery address. --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- (830) 708-7516 Mobile - Wesley rescuetx@hotmail (830) 832-6183 Mobile - Camille camille.m.meyer@gmail facebook/Rescue.Training.International ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Posted on: Fri, 30 May 2014 14:08:39 +0000
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