Westchester County Special Operations

[SageVigiles 1,194]

I agree with you, but the should be a on water rescue team. When a vessel on WLIS calls in distress there is time to save them but there is no on to do the job except local pd's then again it might not be directly called to them... If there was an actual team made by sound shore municipalities... Portchester, Rye, Mamaroneck, Larchmont, New ro and pelham can all chip in a small amount each to make a decent team to cover from the ct border down the the bronx line...

i have seen Local private yacht clubs send there own staff out looking for people out there...

I have also seen NYC Helicopters helping in searches (which is great)

Maybe a team can be made and work with the FDNY and other local "on water" rescue and salvage agencies

I'd imagine your PDs monitor the Marine Emergency channel, which is how they hear about the calls early enough to make a save.

If you did a regional team you'd have to wait for the call to come into your dispatch center, have the dispatcher tone it, have all the personnel respond to a particular location and THEN proceed to get out to the call. That's a lot of lag time. Having worked a LOT of drowning calls at Squantz Pond in New Fairfield, the patient is usually under for 5+ minutes before anyone even notices there's an issue. Add our dispatch, turnout and response time in NF and your patient isn't in very good shape. That's why we have Environmental Conservation Officers on the lake already, they can get something started while we are mobilizing.

You see yacht clubs, etc sending personnel out to search because that's standard protocol for a marine emergency. If you ever listen to the Marine Emergency channel, you'll hear Coast Guard calling out alerts to all vessels that can provide assistance. Because they know by the time the FD or PD get out and start their search, it can be too late.

Again, the county "team" concept isn't necessarily the best for water rescue. If your department has shoreline, its your responsibility to have a capability to deal with water emergencies. You aren't going to have time to wait for other departments to come in and help. Its usually not like other types of rescue where the patient can be trapped but still stable. If someone's drowning they need immediate attention, there's no time for staging, waiting for a technical rescue team, etc. Reach, row, throw, go. And do it quickly.

[ex-commish 490]

Doesn't the Coast Guard have auxillary units stationed around the Hudson and the Sound? Don't they do water rescue also?

[mike2931 13]

Irvington has a bunch of guys that are on their Dive Team also who respond to Croton after the Hurricane this past year with the rafters that got hung up.

[helicopper 1,050]

Doesn't the Coast Guard have auxillary units stationed around the Hudson and the Sound? Don't they do water rescue also?

I'm not sure how well trained or equipped the USCG auxiliary is for the "rescue" part of search and rescue. They can certainly do the search part and if someone is in distress on the surface, they can assist them into their vessel but I don't think they have anyone that is going into or under the water (swimmers/divers).

The benefit of the auxiliary is the fact that they're out there and have a quick response time. They can get to a vessel in distress call before it becomes people in the water and lend assistance before a "rescue" is necessary.

[drgripsthrowawaytowel 72]

If your department has shoreline, its your responsibility to have a capability to deal with water emergencies. You aren't going to have time to wait for other departments to come in and help. Its usually not like other types of rescue where the patient can be trapped but still stable. If someone's drowning they need immediate attention, there's no time for staging, waiting for a technical rescue team, etc.

Wrong. As with any emergency, as long as you have a plan in place, and that plan is to "Contact X resource for their specialty," then your covered. I'm sure you have sewers and confined spaces in your district. Do you have a confined space rescue team in house, in your department ready to go? If someone is digging a trench, are you required to immediately train and supply them with a technical rescue team specializing in trench rescue out of your department? No.

If the plan in place in your SOG/SOP's is to call for a specialized team, then your department has done their required duty. You can train your members to reach, and throw, but rowing and going is a different skill.

Reach, row, throw, go. And do it quickly.

Just as a friendly correction, it's reach, throw, row, go.

[ny10570 745]

You see yacht clubs, etc sending personnel out to search because that's standard protocol for a marine emergency. If you ever listen to the Marine Emergency channel, you'll hear Coast Guard calling out alerts to all vessels that can provide assistance. Because they know by the time the FD or PD get out and start their search, it can be too late.

A lot of people seem to forget, even in NYC PD and FD are rarely first on scene to a distress call. The first responders to flight 1549 were the NY Waterways ferries.

[meat441 43]

If i may! How many (SCUBA RESCUE'S) have occurred in the last, lets say five (5) years vs. RESCUE'S utilizing a boat, throwing device, or personnel with exposure suits or dry suits who have quick access to victims in need? Also, what about dispatch procedures? Multiple resources dispatched on initial alarm? In Morris County i know the COM Center dispatches multiple agencies on the reported structure, FAST TEAM included. Sounds like to me that more SPECIALIZED UNIT'S aren't required, but the MULTIPLE AGENCY dispatch needs to be looked at. Forget about waiting for the arrival of an officer on scene to determine who in addition to the HOME TOWN agency should respond. TIME LOST. You can alway's CANCEL then having to WAIT.

[engine51 10]

If i may! How many (SCUBA RESCUE'S) have occurred in the last, lets say five (5) years vs. RESCUE'S utilizing a boat, throwing device, or personnel with exposure suits or dry suits who have quick access to victims in need? Also, what about dispatch procedures? Multiple resources dispatched on initial alarm? In Morris County i know the COM Center dispatches multiple agencies on the reported structure, FAST TEAM included. Sounds like to me that more SPECIALIZED UNIT'S aren't required, but the MULTIPLE AGENCY dispatch needs to be looked at. Forget about waiting for the arrival of an officer on scene to determine who in addition to the HOME TOWN agency should respond. TIME LOST. You can alway's CANCEL then having to WAIT.

It makes a lot of sense what you think about the Sound Shore topic but, if you wanted a team it would more then likely have to be stationed with a min of 2 people at a time like a VAC would always be have a crew on, and obviously with the team there would be more then one boat so those people on duty at the time would have people backing them up...

[engine51 10]

A lot of people seem to forget, even in NYC PD and FD are rarely first on scene to a distress call. The first responders to flight 1549 were the NY Waterways ferries.

Another great fact about what happend on the hudson, was because this was happening when boats where so close to it, they were there before any 911 calls came in....

[fdny41 11]

I dont know how much of u have boats but i work on the water and hear atleast 3-4 distress calls a day and other calls like hazards in the water, people sick on boats etc. There is more to it then u think

[engine51 10]

Doesn't the Coast Guard have auxillary units stationed around the Hudson and the Sound? Don't they do water rescue also?

Mamaroneck out of harbor island

[engine51 10]

I'd imagine your PDs monitor the Marine Emergency channel, which is how they hear about the calls early enough to make a save.

If you did a regional team you'd have to wait for the call to come into your dispatch center, have the dispatcher tone it, have all the personnel respond to a particular location and THEN proceed to get out to the call. That's a lot of lag time. Having worked a LOT of drowning calls at Squantz Pond in New Fairfield, the patient is usually under for 5+ minutes before anyone even notices there's an issue. Add our dispatch, turnout and response time in NF and your patient isn't in very good shape. That's why we have Environmental Conservation Officers on the lake already, they can get something started while we are mobilizing.

You see yacht clubs, etc sending personnel out to search because that's standard protocol for a marine emergency. If you ever listen to the Marine Emergency channel, you'll hear Coast Guard calling out alerts to all vessels that can provide assistance. Because they know by the time the FD or PD get out and start their search, it can be too late.

Again, the county "team" concept isn't necessarily the best for water rescue. If your department has shoreline, its your responsibility to have a capability to deal with water emergencies. You aren't going to have time to wait for other departments to come in and help. Its usually not like other types of rescue where the patient can be trapped but still stable. If someone's drowning they need immediate attention, there's no time for staging, waiting for a technical rescue team, etc. Reach, row, throw, go. And do it quickly.

It is needed for WLIS there are a lot of calls that become either unattended or the boat must get back to there home port with an injury/sick person aboard......

[Pedro911 22]

Wrong. As with any emergency, as long as you have a plan in place, and that plan is to "Contact X resource for their specialty," then your covered. I'm sure you have sewers and confined spaces in your district. Do you have a confined space rescue team in house, in your department ready to go? If someone is digging a trench, are you required to immediately train and supply them with a technical rescue team specializing in trench rescue out of your department? No.

If the plan in place in your SOG/SOP's is to call for a specialized team, then your department has done their required duty. You can train your members to reach, and throw, but rowing and going is a different skill.

Just as a friendly correction, it's reach, throw, row, go. dont forget Helo.

[Bnechis 3,961]

Doesn't the Coast Guard have auxillary units stationed around the Hudson and the Sound? Don't they do water rescue also?

Yes, but they usually are not "on-call" for emergencies. They have to call in a patrol mission to the CG region and get approval. Then once approved they go out on patrol. If an incident occurs while on patrol then, they may respond.

[Bnechis 3,961]

It makes a lot of sense what you think about the Sound Shore topic but, if you wanted a team it would more then likely have to be stationed with a min of 2 people at a time like a VAC would always be have a crew on, and obviously with the team there would be more then one boat so those people on duty at the time would have people backing them up...

There have been 1 or 2 dozen calls over the last 30 years along the sound shore that required a dive team.

How about 1st we worry about getting enough trained people on every ambulance and fire truck to the hundreds of thousands of calls over that same time period.

[engine51 10]

There have been 1 or 2 dozen calls over the last 30 years along the sound shore that required a dive team.

How about 1st we worry about getting enough trained people on every ambulance and fire truck to the hundreds of thousands of calls over that same time period.

ohh dont worry i agree totally the priority is on land, this is just something that would be great to see on the water....

And its not about when there are just dive calls, but there are a lot of responses you don't hear about on the water happening everyday....

[fdny41 11]

again most of the calls for help on the sound come through vhf radio on channel 16 just this weekend new rochelle pd brought a fisherman on a boat with a hook stuck in him to the hospital. More than 75% of calls for help come through vhf

[helicopper 1,050]

ohh dont worry i agree totally the priority is on land, this is just something that would be great to see on the water....

And its not about when there are just dive calls, but there are a lot of responses you don't hear about on the water happening everyday....

The overwhelming majority of responses on the water are simply calls for disabled vessels. They get handled by SeaTow or other service organizations with no fanfare at all. A lot like HELP trucks on the highway. No big deal, they handle disabled vehicles all day long without emergency services responses. Other calls like boating accidents require a police response for reporting but generally that's it. Actual fires and life safety responses are definitely a small percentage.

There is little need for a new specialty team with two guys standing by "like a VAC". In the event of a true emergency, we get a lot of resources on the water very quickly with what we've got. Could it be improved upon? Sure, what couldn't be better? Unfortunately as we're seeing everywhere there is no money or interest in doing what would "be great to see". We're having enough trouble supporting what's absolutely critical to life safety and day to day operations.

Who would fund a team that may only go out once or twice a summer? Who's going to want to give up there time to stand by for that?

[helicopper 1,050]

again most of the calls for help on the sound come through vhf radio on channel 16 just this weekend new rochelle pd brought a fisherman on a boat with a hook stuck in him to the hospital. More than 75% of calls for help come through vhf

Nothing more than an aided case like dozens of others that happened the same day. Like bnechis said, how about focusing on the hundreds of land based emergencies that happen every day?

A fishing hook in someone's scalp is just another BLS call. What would a dive rescue team have done that wasn't already being done?

Whether received via 911, VHF radio, or smoke signals its just another call. It just happens to be on the water.

[helicopper 1,050]

Just as a friendly correction, it's reach, throw, row, go. dont forget Helo.

Thank you! There'll be a little something extra for you in your spam folder later.

[engine51 10]

The overwhelming majority of responses on the water are simply calls for disabled vessels. They get handled by SeaTow or other service organizations with no fanfare at all. A lot like HELP trucks on the highway. No big deal, they handle disabled vehicles all day long without emergency services responses. Other calls like boating accidents require a police response for reporting but generally that's it. Actual fires and life safety responses are definitely a small percentage.

There is little need for a new specialty team with two guys standing by "like a VAC". In the event of a true emergency, we get a lot of resources on the water very quickly with what we've got. Could it be improved upon? Sure, what couldn't be better? Unfortunately as we're seeing everywhere there is no money or interest in doing what would "be great to see". We're having enough trouble supporting what's absolutely critical to life safety and day to day operations.

Who would fund a team that may only go out once or twice a summer? Who's going to want to give up there time to stand by for that?

Im sure if you were hearing what was going on out on the water you would agree, im not saying make a team that does tows thats why we have Sea Tow

[helicopper 1,050]

It is needed for WLIS there are a lot of calls that become either unattended or the boat must get back to there home port with an injury/sick person aboard......

ohh dont worry i agree totally the priority is on land, this is just something that would be great to see on the water....

And its not about when there are just dive calls, but there are a lot of responses you don't hear about on the water happening everyday....

Im sure if you were hearing what was going on out on the water you would agree, im not saying make a team that does tows thats why we have Sea Tow

I must be missing something. There are only a few distress calls a day; the majority of which are for disabled vessels. There have been a handful of "boat accidents" during the past year or so on the Long Island Sound around Westchester but that doesn't warrant the establishment of a whole new team.

What are you hearing that the rest of us are missing?