Gwinnett Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team Runs Live Rescue Drill

It was educational, interesting and comforting to watch the Gwinnett Fire Department Swift Water Rescue Team as it ran a non-motorized training exercise on the Chattahoochee River. Non-motorized meant that a swimmer would be in the water and rescuers would throw rescue rope bags and team up to “rescue the swimmer” to demonstrate a rescue attempt.

The team assembled at the lower pool at Buford Dam Park, donned their dry suits, flotation gear and helmets and headed toward the river. The river was a docile flowing stream with rock tops rising from the riverbed allowing Canada geese to climb out of the water for a brief respite. That would soon change as the warning sounded from upstream indicating Buford Dam would soon be releasing large amounts of water into the river.

The Army Corps of Engineers sounded another warning that announced their scheduled release that would soon generate a rapid increase in the water supply. Suddenly the rock tops began disappearing beneath the river’s surface and the geese moved closer to shore. Noticeably, the previously gentle stream grew angry as it rapidly developed into a raging river. In the exercise a "swimmer" bravely entered the now dangerous waters and swam directly away from the safety of the shoreline. The "rescuer," standing in knee- to waist-deep water, proceeded with the bag toss. The swimmer grabbed the attached line and was pulled to the secure shoreline.

In a real rescue situation, hypothermia sometimes sets in and a swimmer cannot grab the bag that has been tossed in and a second person from the team will swim out and assist in the rescue, explained Capt. Tommy Rutledge, spokesman for Gwinnett County Fire and Emergency Services.