Mahopac Falls VFD Team Dives Into Action To Hone Rescue, Recovery Skills

The Mahopac Falls VFD Dive Team practiced their rescue and recovery skills Sunday, March 3 at the school beach at the end of Croton Falls Road and East Lake Boulevard.

Standard setup of Incident Command with Chief's Car, Truck and Dive Trailer and EMS at the edge of the water.
Photo Credit: *Mahopac Falls Volunteer Fire Department*

Yellow suited Tenders keep the diver in the water in sight at all times
Photo Credit: *Mahopac Falls Volunteer Fire Department*

The diver is taken from the water and moved to a rescue sled for quick transport to the shore
Photo Credit: *Mahopac Falls Volunteer Fire Department*

Tenders haul the diver to shore
Photo Credit: *Mahopac Falls Volunteer Fire Department*

Once a diver is removed from the water, they are examined by EMS
Photo Credit: *Mahopac Falls Volunteer Fire Department*

The next diver is prepared for their turn in the water by MFVFD Dive Tenders
Photo Credit: *Mahopac Falls Volunteer Fire Department*

Valerie Musson

03/05/2019 4:30 a.m.

These skills were brought back by Dive Lieut. Brandon Dwyer and Past Dive Capt. Aaron Wisotsky after a recent safety seminar in Connecticut.

A dive call necessitates a series of highly specified response phases: the dive trailer must be set up to the Brush truck for transport, the Rescue truck responds for support and diver rehab and an ambulance is prepared and reserved solely for dive team member use.

Chief Brian Sacher worked as Incident Commander alongside Asst. Chief Bob Trace in charge of Operations to carry out a detailed training session, keeping curious neighbors at a safe distance. The dive scene was indicated by scene tape and safety cones. Crews work with a series of ropes and tools at the edge of the ice to make access holes for the divers to tend to their rescue missions.

“The day was a good one for all involved because you could see everything that was being taught,” said an EMT representative regarding the training session. “Many times, the team is not so lucky and has to respond in the middle of the night or during inclement weather. That is where the importance of training comes into play.”

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