Human Resources Management for Public and Nonprofit Organizations

Training and Development 337

Exercise 11.2: Training First Responders in Water Rescue

Different county governments have different training protocols for rescuing

individuals who fall out of a boat, slip off a bridge, or drive into a pond.

Some rescuers jump in. Others do not.

In one case, an off - duty paramedic saw a car go into a pond and called

for help; he was not trained to do any more. An ambulance arrived, but

no one on it was trained to perform a water rescue either. They had to

wait for fi refi ghters to arrive; and then it was too late: the man drowned.

Paramedics in that county were not trained to perform rescues, because

water rescue training was not offered at emergency medical school. As a

result of this incident, the department decided to make some changes:

ambulances will add fl otation devices and rope lines as standard equip-

ment so fi rst responders can throw them to people in the water and pull

them to shore if necessary.

Neighboring local governments have paramedics who perform water

rescues. In those communities, every paramedic, emergency medical

technician, and fi refi ghter has been cross - trained and can perform water

rescues.

Questions

1. If you were the department director, are there other strategies you
   would implement besides adding rescue equipment to ambulances in
   an attempt to prevent another drowning when an ambulance arrives
   on the scene?


2. Think about your current job or a job you have held in the past. In
   what skills would you like or have liked to be cross - trained in? Develop
   a training and development plan for you. What KSAOCs are you seeking?
   Through what methods of delivery would you acquire them? How long
   do you think it would take to become cross - trained? How expensive
   would it be for you or the organization you work for?

Source: Morelli (2007).