Kayaker Saved from Swift Water
Fort Benning Fire Department Reported: April 19, 2014 Reported by William P. Pagels, District Chief FORT BENNING, GA — After very heavy rains the Upatoi Creek was running 16 feet above flood stage when six untrained kayakers entered the water and were rapidly over come by the current. One was swept away in his boat and was able to land safely downstream. Two capsized immediately and lost their boats in the current. One self-rescued to the shore and the other was stuck in a tree in the swift water about 80′ from shore. In an attempt to rescue his friend from the tree, a third capsized and lost his boat but managed to self rescue. The forth successfully returned to shore. The Fort Benning Fire Department responded to the scene and successfully tethered a rescuer who deployed into the creek far enough to throw the ResQ-Disc to the stranded victim. The victim was successfully belayed to shore with mild hypothermia but no injuries. I have personally responded to several water fatalities on Fort Benning and am ecstatic to report a life saved! Thank...
Read MoreSquad Uses Frisbee-Like Gadget In Tubers’ Rescue
Posted by resqdisc on Aug 25, 2014 in News | Comments Off on Squad Uses Frisbee-Like Gadget In Tubers’ Rescue
By Anna C. Irwin Of the Daily Times Staff If you can throw a Frisbee, you can save a life. Blount County Rescue Squad used the ResQ Disc to prove that last Friday when the hauled two tubers out of Little River in the Great Smoky Mountains National Park, then were called back to the park less than an hour later to rescue four swimmers in trouble at the Townsend Y. The chief executive officer of Save A Life, the Florida company that produces the discs, planned to fly to Blount County Thursday to personally congratulate the squad for their life-saving efforts. Unfortunately, Dr. Sytko’s plane was grounded by bad weather in Atlanta. A plaque recognizing the Blount County Rescue Squad’s efforts was presented by James Bruns of Bruns Wholesale in Seymour, the East Tennessee representative for Save A Life. Harold Robbins, chairman of the squad’s board of directors, accepted the recognition on behalf of the squad’s volunteers. He also announced plans for a fund-raising effort by the squad utilizing the ResQ Disc. Robbins said everyone making a donation of $30 or more to the Blount County Rescue Squad will receive one of the discs which retail for $39.95. Those who get a disc in appreciation for a $30 donation will save almost $10 over a retail purchase. The rescue squad will keep $10 from each $30 donation. “The greatest benefit will be getting the ResQ Disc into the hands of boaters, people with swimming pools, and others who might someday need to save someone from drowning,” Robbins said. Details of the disc giveaway to donors will be announced later. The disc looks like a fat orange Frisbee wearing a belt. Only 12 inches across, it’s compact enough for any location. When needed, anyone can use it by pulling lose the Velcro on the belt to free a few yards of the 100 feet of rope wrapped around the disc. The belt is attached to the thrower’s waist before the disc is thrown. The disc releases its rope as it sails through the air. The rope acts as a guide making it relatively easy to hit a target area. Once the disc lands in the water, it becomes a flotation device able to support two adults who can be pulled to safety with the rope. Jana Lusby, Blount County Rescue Squad unit director, said Burns gave two discs to...
Read More
