Local, regional agencies participate in swift water rescue training

JONESBOROUGH, Tenn. (WJHL) — Local and regional agencies participated in a Swift Water and Rope Rescue Instructor course at the Jonesborough KOA campground on Tuesday.

The instructor course will teach attendees swift water and rope rescue so they can return to their department to train others.

“Flooding is one of the most costly disasters in the nation,” Washington County, Tennessee/Johnson City EMS Chief Dan Wheeley said. “Texas is going through a horrible time right now with flooding. We’re prone to flash flooding in Tennessee as well. And so this class [is] important. These instructors will go back to their departments and be able to bring this training to their departments, develop their swift water programs and train firefighters, paramedics, police officers and staff to be able to go out and rescue people when we have flooding.”

The two-day class will focus on swift water, boat and rope rescues. Wheeley said the Jonesborough KOA campground is one of the best swift water rescue sites in the county.

“Water is always changing,” Wheeley said. “It’s coming up, going down, constantly changing. You never know how many victims you’re going to have when you respond. Many times it’s in the dark in flood response. You know, we train out here in the river. It’s a great venue and we’re so blessed to have this spot to train.”

Wheeley said EMS departments never know when they’ll get a call regarding water rescue and the training allows first responders to do that safely.

“As first responders, they’re called to mitigate all kinds of hazards and all kinds of incidents,” Wheeley said. “And flooding is something that we just have to deal with in East Tennessee all the time. This training allows our responders to do that safely, to be able to go out and affect those rescues, take care of their community, and be able to train their firefighters to operate safely.”

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