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“We’re utilized during floods, rafting and fishing accidents, people falling in canals, cars driven into the water…” said Kittitas County Undersheriff Clayton Myers. “Any kind of water situation that occurs here.”

Myers is a diver on the rescue team, as well as a certified boat operator and swift water rescuer.

There are a total of 10 certified boat operators, seven swift water rescuers and four divers in the Sheriff’s Office. All divers are on the swift water rescue team, and all swift water rescuers are certified boat operators.

The scenarios

The team on Tuesday ran three scenarios, including a swim, rope and boat rescue on the Yakima River.

The swim rescue allowed training for a situation where there was no boat available or the boat could not access the site.

Similarly, the rope rescue created a situation where there was no boat access or availability. Rescuers were able to use an rope system called a “z-drag,” allowing rescuers to use the current to facilitate the rescue.

Members from Fire Districts 1 and 2 were training as well and set up the rope systems for the scenarios.

“Because of the size of the county and the man-power restrictions we all face, we strive to share resources whenever possible,” Myers said.

The final scenario, the boat rescue, involved rescuers getting to the victim, evaluating him and then bringing him to emergency medical personnel.

From each scenario, the rescue team had lessons learned.

“We know now what we can’t do without the boat,” Myers said. “We’ll save time because we won’t try to do what we know we can’t.”

Myers also said that direct communication needs some work. The department will be applying for a Law and Justice grant to get new water rescue helmets with built-in waterproof intercoms and mics that are married to their radio systems.

Myers felt the overall training was a success.

“We have been very fortunate to have the support from fire services and some very, very dedicated deputies that are willing to take on these extra responsibilities.”



Rescuing the rescuer

During the swim rescue, Myers became hung up on a log in the middle of the river. Search and rescuers cut his rope line in order to free him, resulting in the current taking him a quarter of a mile down river.

Once the rescue boat caught up to him, some of the rope that remained attached to his leg became ensnared with the propeller.

“Every time they used the throttle to hold it in place, it pulled me under the boat,” Myers said.

Rescuers had to cut the line again, finally freeing Myers

“That’s why we train,” Myers said. “It’s better to figure it out here than when we need to rescue someone.”

Myers’ daughter, Jessica, was volunteering as a “mock victim” during the scenarios.

“I was up further and didn’t see it happen,” Jessica said. “That’s kind of scary to hear about afterwards.”

Jessica, 18, and friends Chelsea Aust, 21, and Luke Yarwood, 20, all volunteered during the rope rescue scenario. Each volunteer represented a different situation, such as a broken arm, leg or unconscious victim.

“It was fun,” Jessica said. “It wasn’t scary or anything. I’ve been around them doing this kind of thing before.”



Expanding training

Earlier this spring, there was a drowning on Lake Cle Elum where swift water rescuers cooperated with Upper County fire departments.

Myers hopes to begin training with the Upper County fire services in the fall.

“It just makes sense to make them part of the team,” Myers said.

By CHELSEA KROTZER
staff writer
http://www.kvnews.com/articles/2008/07/19/news/doc4880f36b17b5b081265770.txt