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Area rescue departments looking to add dive equipment
Thursday, June 21, 2007 11:00 PM EDT
Over Memorial Day weekend, swimming proved to be deadly for some. In Lewis County, Danny Edington was pulled from the Ohio River after a wave from a passing barge swept him and his family members into the water. In Bracken County, 19-year-old Nicholas Walker drowned in the Licking River while swimming with friends.
Fleming County specifically faced the dangers of farm ponds when 15-year-old Chris Thompson lost his life while playing with friends in one of the ponds.
After all of these accidents, Fleming County volunteer emergency personnel found themselves unable to recover the bodies with their own equipment. Now, representatives from a few of the departments are working to collect funds from the area to add diving equipment to their arsenal of emergency equipment essentials.
During Fleming County Fiscal Court on Tuesday, volunteer firefighter John Simms Jr., accompanied by fellow firefighter Ray Denton, presented a proposal for funding the purchase of two full dive suits for Fleming County volunteers.
Fleming County Fiscal Court members approved a contribution of $812.50 for the purchase.
"We received approval for regulators, tanks and weights," said Simms.
According to Simms, the total for the equipment needed will be $1,560. The men will soon approach the Flemingsburg City Council for the remainder of the funds needed to purchase quality gear necessary for search and rescue diving.
Diving equipment ranges from the simple to the advanced. Basic diving suits include regulators or rebreathers, which allow the diver to breathe through a tank attached to his or her back. Wet suits are used for skin protection, along with diving boots and gloves, which are all made of malleable rubber and neoprene. Basics such as masks and fins are accompanied by weighting systems and buoyancy control devices to keep the diver under water.
For all of these items, along with the fiscal court's partial funding, the court granted the departments the use of a boat and truck left unused since the Fleming County Rescue Squad was disbanded in January, 2005. The rescue squad had provided emergency assistance to local counties for an estimated 40 years, but could not overcome the insurance issues that forced officials to decide not to sign the squad's charter.
Now, after the local drownings, officials see that diving equipment will provide the area with a great service.
"None of the departments were properly equipped for underwater activities," said Fleming County Judge-Executive Larry Foxworthy.
The city also approved a storage location for the truck at the Tilton Volunteer Fire Department, although the equipment will be made available to each of the six Fleming County area volunteer fire departments. Several people working as firefighters at the departments will be knowledgeable with the new equipment.
"Right now, there are four people in the departments with diving certification," said Simms. "Hopefully, there will be more in the future."
With new equipment becoming available to the departments, the city is hoping to find itself better prepared for the rescue or recovery of victims located in the water.
"If we don't have this equipment, we'd have to depend on other counties. It will be nice to use the county's own equipment," said Foxworthy.
"Not only Fleming County will benefit from this. The surrounding counties will also, including Mason County. We'll be able to help other departments with this equipment," said Simms.
Contact Brooke Allison at jennifer.allison@lee.net, or call 606-564-9091, ext. 271.
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