E27 - Swiftwater Rescue

CMC Podcast

In this episode, Jim Pellitteri Battalion Chief from the Gurnee (IL) Fire Department and and Chris Rohde Director of Training at the McHenry Township Fire Protection District discuss what swiftwater is, some of the most common misconceptions about it and fundamentals to consider. They give some examples of swiftwater specific dangers and give tips for how to safely and effectively navigate swiftwater rescue.

Time Stamps:
0:40 Jim Pellitteri introduction - Battalion Chief from the Gurnee (IL) Fire Department

2:45 Chris Rohde introduction - Director of Training at the McHenry Township Fire Protection District

4:08 What is swift water?

10:25 What type of specialty PPE do you use in swift water rescue?

12:50 What kind of risk assessments have you done in your area to determine where your possible areas are for swift water?

16:57 How do you handle different sorts of flooding conditions? Moving water vs static high water?

22:15 How do you mitigate the risk of wading in contaminated water?

23:25 What's the difference between a swift water high line and a rope rescue high line.

33:06 Can you speak to the size and scope of the MABIS Division 4 & 5 SRT teams?

37:57 What are the four tactics of swift water rescue and what do they entail?

43:07 Closing statements

Links:

Dive Rescue International