Lifesaving Resources, LLC of Kennebunkport, Maine graduated 11 new Swiftwater Rescue Technicians on Sunday, April 29, 2012. The 11 graduates and 4 instructors represented Fire, Rescue, EMS, and Law Enforcement Agencies from New York, Delaware, Indiana, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Maine.
On day 1, the students participated in a 4-hour classroom session conducted at Keene State College, followed by a 4-hour swimming pool session at the Keene Family YMCA. Day 2 was conducted entirely in the Ashuelot River in Keene, New Hampshire, where the students participated in boat rescue operations, live-bait swimming rescues, spinal injury management, shore-based rescues, and the use of specialized rescue equipment.
The course was conducted by Gerald M. Dworkin, a professional Aquatics Safety & Water Rescue Consultant for Lifesaving Resources, LLC. He was assisted by Greg LeBlanc, of the Northwood (NH) Fire Department; David Cianfrini, of the Sandown (NH) Police Department, and Robert Shields, of the Cumberland (RI) Rescue Service.
Graduates included:
- Christopher Dedrick, Niverville (NY) Fire Department
- Stephen Gilbert, Bethany Beach (DE) Fire Company
- Pete Harvey, Niverville (NY) Fire Department
- Robert Hawley, Sr., Niverville (NY) Fire Department
- Wayne Huyck, Niverville (NY) Fire Department
- Joseph LaRue, North Conway (NH)
- Mindy Savely, Corydon (IN)
- James Miller, Bethany Beach (DE) Fire Company
- James Svensson, Niverville (NY) Fire Department
- Henry Swartz, Jr., Niverville (NY) Fire Department
- Shane Truitt, Bethany Beach (DE) Fire Company
The purpose of the training was to provide the students with the skills and knowledge required to safely and effectively manage incidents in, on and around the water. The course meets and exceeds NFPA 1670 Standard for Technical Rescue and the graduates are certified for 5 years from the course completion date.
Lifesaving Resources, LLC is dedicated to drowning and aquatic injury prevention and emergency management. The company develops Aquatics Safety, Lifeguarding, Water Rescue, Swiftwater Rescue, and Ice Rescue training curriculums, and conducts this training throughout North America for the Public Safety and Rescue, as well as the Lifeguard and Aquatic Recreation Sectors. Lifesaving Resources, LLC is a sponsor of the National Drowning Prevention Alliance (www.ndpa.org), a national non-profit organization dedicated to drowning prevention and water safety.
Gerald M. Dworkin serves as the Technical Consultant for Lifesaving Resources, LLC. Dworkin has written and published more than 40 articles and has spoken at national conferences throughout the U.S. for the Public Safety and Rescue, as well as the Lifeguard and Aquatic Recreation Sector. He also regularly consults as a Forensics Expert in drowning and aquatic injury litigation throughout the U.S. Dworkin has served as a subject matter expert for a number of national media broadcasts, including CBS' Early Show; ABC's Good Morning America; NBC's Today Show; The Weather Channel; The Discovery Channel; The History Channel; CNN; and MSNBC News.