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MARINE BASE PARERA, Willemstad, Curaçao (August 2, 2018) – The Florida Army National Guard travelled to Willemstad, Curaçao, to work with the Vrijwilligers Korps Curaçao (VKC) on search and rescue (SAR) and medical response tactics with a special emphasis on swift water rescue, August 1-2, 2018.
Curaçao is at risk for flash floods due to heavy rains, hurricanes and geography. In turn, the VKC specifically asked for a swift water rescue discussion.
“It is important that we know what to do in the water to save lives,” said Capt. Signalda Olario, head of logistic support division with the VKC.
Sgt. 1st Class Robby E. Creech, with the Florida National Guard’s CERFP, taught an awareness level instruction to members of the VKC about swift water rescue operations. Creech began the class with a PowerPoint, which covered dangerous situations involving rapid moving water. He also showed videos and talked the VKC through rescue operations step-by-step and answered questions along the way.
“It doesn’t matter what level of operation you act upon,” said Creech. “You could find yourself in the water during a rescue operation; how you respond could determine whether you live or die. That’s what makes swift water rescue an important topic to discuss.”
Upon completion of the classroom portion, the VKC and CERFP team moved onto the simulation stage in a pool at Marine Base Parera.
The first day of instruction was in the pool where the VKC practiced entering the water, saving victims with throw bags and crossing the water with ropes. The group was then broken up into three teams that came up with strategies and responses to potential scenarios given to them by the CERFP staff.
The training for the next day was scenario driven. The CERFP team created different scenarios that included a close proximity victim in the water, a far proximity victim in the water and an injured victim across a rapid moving river who needed a helicopter extraction.
“Everything we learned was new,” said Ruben Victorina, VKC rescue platoon team member. “We do realize that lives depend on us and we want to be better. The FLARNG helped us with that.”
The VKC are now more familiar with how to complete a swift water rescue. The VKC would like to continue the information exchange with the FLARNG and continue to advance their knowledge and skills.
“Slowly we can increase our knowledge,” Maj. Roger Gibbes, commander of the VKC. “When [the FLARNG] comes back, we want to show we have improved and that we can move into more difficult tasks.”
| Date Taken: | 08.01.2018 |
| Date Posted: | 08.27.2018 20:37 |
| Story ID: | 289149 |
| Location: | CW |
| Web Views: | 33 |
| Downloads: | 0 |
This work, CERFP conducts SAR swift water information exchange with the VKC, by SSG Leia Tascarini, identified by DVIDS, must comply with the restrictions shown on https://www.dvidshub.net/about/copyright.
