This past weekend, three of our members completed Swiftwater/Flood Boat Operator Training on the Potomac River near Dargan, Maryland and Harpers Ferry, West Virginia, hosted by Atlantic Technical Rescue and certified through Rescue 3 International.

This advanced, hands-on course focused on operating rescue boats in challenging flood and swiftwater environments. Our members trained in:

Emergency boat handling under power and with paddles

Launching, recovery, and anchoring in current

Victim pick-up and rescue from the water

Team and self-rescue operations

River reading and hydrology—understanding current behavior and hazards

Rescue boat equipment, casualty management, and pre/post-trip protocols

Operating and maneuvering multiple boat types and configurations for different rescue scenarios

These skills build directly on the foundation of our Surface Water Rescue Team, which went into service last November. The members who attended will now bring that knowledge back to train and strengthen the rest of the team.

Special thanks to Atlantic Technical Rescue for the outstanding instruction and continued support of our mission.

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