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Starting a Volunteer Surf / Water Rescue Team
I dont know if anybody has any experience with starting a group similar to the one that we are trying to start here in Rhode Island. A group of lifeguards, firefighters, dispatchers, EMT's and police officers have come together and formed a Non-profit organization. While we are all members of some form of professional fire or rescue agency, this new group is not and is being started from the ground up.
We are trying to secure our own funding, equipment and tools so that we can assist local agencies with water safety and rescue.
Our struggle has been in finding agencies that will call for us, and finding the funds to support this type of group. Everybody we have spoken with in the State sees a need for this type of specialized team due to the fact we are the Ocean State, and Fire / Rescue departments are far too stretched to cover the shore during the busy summer months.
If anybody has any experience starting a water rescue team, or has any input for us we would really appreciate it.
Thanks!!
Replies to This Discussion
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Permalink Reply by Sparky3317 on
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I dont have any experience in this type of team but I do have a few thoughts.
In alot of places with full timers such as Rhode Island I beleive the reason you are having a hard time finding agencies that will call you is because if the state can find volunteers to complete a task it will hinder the chances of those fire and even police departments of every gaining more man power, funding and other equipment and grants which in alot of places is needed these days.
I am all for volunteers in any situation, I think they are the best idea in the world, people doing a job they love just because they can, but it is hard to get programs like this up and running in certain areas. Best idea is contact other volunteer companies to find out their history and how they got started and also for funding ideas. I know a few companies have bingo nights and such.
Good luck with your team and program I hope you can get it up and running. Stay safe
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Permalink Reply by Mike Schlags (Captain Busy) Retd on
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Somewhere... I have or had a copy of Ventura County Fire Department's Swift Water / Surf Rescue Program SOG's and Rescue Operations Guidelines. Both are in a PDF format. I'll keep looking so I can send it post it here for yours and others review. Until then, keep in mind that directly contacting departments will produce the sought after SOG/SOP's as well as finding out what they used for funding sources. Do your homework by learning from others. If there are more than just a few of you trying to make this happen, then standardize the type(s) of needed information, create a form and delegate members / people to fill in the blanks. This is a quick, cheap way to do some basic research, hopefully resulting in your desired results... a working team.
My best, CBz
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Permalink Reply by Tim on
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I have participated in starting two ofthese types of programs - contact me at therescuecompany@yahoo.com
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Permalink Reply by Ocean State Surf Rescue on
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Thanks Mike, that would be a big help to have SOG/SOP to look at. Right now we have a few Bylaws and sample policies from other similar agencies. Our biggest problem is making contacts with State agencies like the Emergency Management Agency, and the Coast Guard. They are not easy to find contacts with and work in secure facilities.
Attracting volunteers has also been a struggle, most people who are trained are already working for departments and are hesitant to volunteer. Its a catch-22 type of situation.
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Permalink Reply by Andrew Salinger on
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If its for surf beaches and the like you could try approaching local surfers and see if they are interested in helping you out. They know the beaches better than everyone so having them doing rescues and patrols would be very beneficial.
Over here in Australia we have Surf lifesaving clubs in most beachside towns and it works really well. Most of the equipment consists of surf boards, inflatable rescue boat, firstaid kits and spineboards.
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Permalink Reply by Chris Combs on
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I have the same thing going as you here in RI. We should get togeather and bump heads. I have done water recovery on my PWC. We need to hook up. My email is: newvest001@yahoo.com
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