Fire Wire - Cherokee County Fire and Emergency Services

The Fire Wire
Page 8
Cherokee County Firefighters Take to the Water
Cherokee County firefighters head to Lake Allatoona
during the first week of June to do more than
enjoying time on the lake. The firefighters went
through an extensive water rescue training event to
help them be better prepared during an emergency
at the lake.
According to Lt. Robbie Kennedy, a Fire Training
Officer with Cherokee County Fire and Emergency
Services, “We covered boat maneuvering, driving
and maneuvering our two rescue boats, boat trailer
maneuvering, limited contact rescues, personal
flotation device safety, and rescue rope throw bag
operations.”
All in all, Cherokee County firefighters received
about 8 hours in the classroom and 10 hours of
practical application training.
The Water Rescue Training came in handy a couple
of weeks later when Cherokee County firefighters
responded to a gentleman who had been injured on
Lake Allatoona.
According to Lt. Rick Baechtal, “The four of us
(firefighters) proceeded down river and were with the
patient within 8 minutes of dispatch. We arrived to
find a young male floating next to a powerboat. It
seems he had suffered head and back injuries and
was in extreme pain. He was also hypothermic and
starting to shake uncontrollably due to being in the
water motionless.”
A Cherokee County firefighter reaches for a rescue
rope throw bag.
“Sgt. Michael Poulson and firefighter Michael Sims
entered the water, with Sims assuming C-spine. The
patient was placed onto a backboard and then into
the stokes basket. We soon had him loaded on
Boat-22 and proceeded back to shore,” added
Baechtal. The patient was later transported in an
ambulance to Marietta’s Kennestone Hospital.
Baechtal also expressed his pride in being involved
in this incident and commended each team member
who performed this rescue in a manner the citizens
and our department can be proud of.
Wear It!
It Could SAVE Your Life!