Swift Water Rescue Drill in Bethlehem

By THOMAS MARRA , Correspondent | September 27, 2021 | NEW YORK

Story No. 101721110

Photo by Thomas MarraTown of Bethlehem fire departments conducted a swift water rescue drill on the Hudson River.

Photo by Thomas MarraTown of Bethlehem fire departments conducted a swift water rescue drill on the Hudson River.

Photo by Thomas MarraTown of Bethlehem fire departments conducted a swift water rescue drill on the Hudson River.

Photo by Thomas MarraTown of Bethlehem fire departments conducted a swift water rescue drill on the Hudson River.

Photo by Thomas MarraTown of Bethlehem fire departments conducted a swift water rescue drill on the Hudson River.

Photo by Thomas MarraTown of Bethlehem fire departments conducted a swift water rescue drill on the Hudson River.

Photo by Thomas MarraTown of Bethlehem fire departments conducted a swift water rescue drill on the Hudson River.

Photo by Thomas MarraChief Marc Futia of Elsmere Fire on Selkirk's fire boat at a swift water rescue drill in the town.

BETHLEHEM, NY - A swift water rescue drill was conducted in the Town of Bethlehem on Monday, September 27th. The Slingerlands FD conducted the drill with the Selkirk FD and some members of the Elsmere FD in the Hudson River, at the location of the dock for the Selkirk FD’s boat. This location was chosen primarily because of the possibility of a rescue of a victim(s) stuck in a current in the river.

Technical rescue team members of Slingerlands Fire and members of Elsmere Fire who were interested in learning, practiced getting a feel for the new suits purchased by the department through a grant.

Members practiced safe ways of getting rescuers in and out of the water, as well as throwing rope bags to rescue victims.

A boat from Selkirk Fire was in the water to make sure rescuers were safe and also practiced rescuing victims from the side of the boat as an alternative rescue source.