COLUMBUS, Ind. – The Columbus Fire Department (CFD) and the Columbus Parks and Recreation Department teamed at Mill Race Park on Tuesday afternoon to train with a potentially lifesaving tool, water rescue throw bags.
Firefighters contributed to the training by providing a rescue throw bag presentation to 30 members of the parks operations staff who commonly work along rivers that border community parks located within the city.
Following the educational session on throw bag use, the park employees participated in hands-on skills scenarios commonly practiced by first responders. Several Columbus firefighters then entered the Flatrock River and posed as distressed swimmers needing assistance. Parks department staff members utilized their training to deploy rescue throw bags to “rescue” firefighters from the water.
In 2017, the Columbus Parks Department placed water rescue throw bags in all park operations vehicles to serve as a first response tool for park staff working at city park properties near rivers. Since then, the Columbus Fire Department and Columbus Parks Department have worked together to conduct several training exercises to keep skill levels high.
Tuesday’s exercise was implemented to provide a refresher course for incumbent staff and initial training for recently hired personnel for both agencies.
