By Allison G. S. Knox
Contributor, AMU Edge
In emergency management, we often analyze the cost benefit of public safety activities in a community. This risk analysis is important because it can be the driving force behind whether a community will pay to mitigate a hazard or train for something else. Because community budgets are often so tight, it can be difficult to justify some of the expenses associated with mitigation. In many cases, communities will submit grant requests for a specific issue while other communities will simply wait until they have the funds in their budget to act.
Specialized training is one of these areas that can be difficult to fund, particularly if emergency management training is not offered regularly. It comes down to a matter of budgets and whether communities can utilize training on a more regular basis. But, specialized training is one of emergency management’s most important aspects for responding to 911 emergencies.
Specialized Training Needs to Be Scheduled on a Regular Basis
Specialized training needs to be scheduled on a regular basis because it can assist in unusual situations when responders to an emergency need to think innovatively. This training also gives first responders unique perspectives in handling various emergencies that may in turn affect how they handle other types of emergencies.
In February, firefighters in Stamford, Connecticut, responded to a submerged vehicle in icy waters. According to News 12 Connecticut television, “The incident happened shortly after 2 p.m. Fire officials say a pickup was floating 40 feet offshore, with a female standing in the rear cargo area and a man trapped in the truck’s cab.” Three firefighters in cold water rescue suits swam to the truck. Both people were rescued just before the vehicle became completely submerged.
One can’t simply swim in icy waters. It takes special training to know the appropriate rescue techniques and strategies for ice water rescues. Additionally, specialized training is absolutely needed to manage patient care for individuals who have been in frigid water for a long period.
Most states require that EMTs and paramedics attend regular in-service training sessions to maintain their certifications and licenses. Accordingly, they are improving their understanding of specialized rescues and specialized patient care or illnesses. Further, many ambulance agencies also provide opportunities for EMTs and paramedics to improve their skills through invaluable in-service training sessions.
Despite the fact that municipal budgets are often extremely tight, and specialized training is one of those risk analysis areas that many departments shy away from, specialized training for water rescue is a particularly important area that most departments should train for. Doing so simply allows first responders to learn more ways to adapt in obscure rescue situations. The Stamford incident simply highlights the importance of this rescue training and demonstrates the need to understand more about how to respond to these types of emergencies.
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