Firefighters use ACS Cobham pool for fast-water rescue (From Your Local Guardian)

Firefighters use ACS Cobham pool for fast-water rescue

11:47am Monday 13th February 2012 in Elmbridge By Louise Robertson

Surrey Fire and Rescue Service is using a school swimming pool to practise water rescue techniques.

The crew from Painshill fire station has been using ACS Cobham International School’s swimming pool every Monday, using a range of rescue equipment.

A 5m inflatable mud path used to rescue people stuck in mud, ice or water has been used in the pool.

All firefighters at Painshill fire station are fully qualified swift water technicians, meaning they are able to throw inflatable lines to people caught in fast-flowing water.

The weekly sessions in the school pool are an opportunity for them to practise their throwing techniques and keep their fitness up.

Tony Pascall, watch manager at Painshill, said: “Using ACS Cobham’s facilities our team can train in a controlled, warm environment, rather than the local rivers we have previously been using, which carry a lot of waterborne diseases so are far from an ideal location.

“A lot of specialised emergency situations occur in winter, such as people falling through ice, or becoming stuck in boggy riverbanks, so it’s important for us to continually practise using equipment like the mud path.”

The training sessions will run until Easter.