The
formation of the Portage County Water Rescue Team
was brought about in 2002, when it was determined
that it would be much more beneficial for the
citizens of Portage County to have a regional county
team that could be deployed and perform safely and
effectively anywhere in our county. By joining the
forces of Kent, Mantua, Ravenna Twp., Streetsboro,
and Suffield, members of these fire departments own
dive teams started training together to create one
well trained and equipped water rescue team. In
2005, the PCWRT was added to the Statewide water
disaster response plan, to be sent anywhere in the
state or country to assist with water related
emergencies. In 2007 members of the Portage County
Sheriffs Dept. joined the PCWRT and have now made
us more well rounded, adding the law enforcement /
investigation aspect to the team. In the past four
years, we have become one of only a few teams in the
state to be trained to do all of the following:
- Rescue Diving (Advance Level)
- Ice Rescue
- Ice Diving
- Swiftwater Rescue (Advance
Level)
- Flood Rescue
- Underwater Investigation
- Boat Based Dive Operations
- Shore Responder
- Underwater Salvage and
Recovery
In the next year, we plan to
expand our team regionally as well as start an
education program in the schools of Portage County
to teach the children about water safety.
The PCWRT is made up of three team
member classifications:
1)
Shore Support: This
classification indicates that the individual has a
basic knowledge of diving theories, equipment,
underwater physiology, underwater physics, witness
interviewing, line tendering and has been trained to
the level of Shore Support / tender. Shore
support classes are held yearly by District
Coordinator Simmons. Ravenna Twp. fire dept.
was the first fire department in the country to be
fully certified as Shore support personnel by Dive
Rescue Intl.
2)
Rescue Diver:
This Classification indicates that the member has
been through the Medical Dive class, Shore Support
class, has a open water dive certification as well
as a Dive Rescue 1 certification from Dive Rescue
Intl. taught by Commander Moore or District
Coordinator Simmons.
3)
Advanced Rescue Diver:
This Classification indicates that the member has
completed all requirements for Rescue diver as well
as taken specialized water rescue courses such as:
-Swiftwater & Flood rescue
-Ice rescue & Ice Diver
-Salvage & Recovery
-Boat Operations
-Evidence & Investigations
-Haz-Mat diving
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