The Anna Maria Island Sun Newspaper

Vol. 12 No. 41 - July 25, 2012

FEATURE

Practice makes perfect

Anna Maria Island Sun News Story

Lifeguards and firefighters teamed up last week to practice marine rescue operations off Bradenton Beach. In one drill, they located a “victim” in distress in shallow water, rescued him on a longboard, stabilized him on a backboard in case he had spinal cord injuries and transported him to the Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department's boat for transport to land and a hospital.

Above, Manatee County Marine Rescue Division Capt. Joe Westerman tells Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department Deputy Chief Sandi Drake how to position herself on a rescue longboard.

Right, Longboat Key Fire Rescue Department firefighter/paramedic

Daniel Heath, in front, and firefighter/paramedic Jim Reynolds paddle out to rescue a "victim" in practice exercises.

On the cover, Lt. Rex Beach, of the Manatee County Marine Rescue Division, pulls lifeguard Derek Bill on a sled to the site of a drill.

Cindy Lane | SUN
Emergency responders from the Manatee County Marine
Rescue Division worked with the Longboat Key Fire
Rescue Department last week off Bradenton Beach in
water rescue training exercises.


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