After reading the CAP post, I thought I would ask this here as well.

I start EMT-B school in Kanuary, and plan to go to Paramedic school after I get my six months experience in. I am also a Volunterr Fire Fighter her in town, also starting in January. Iam very interested int he Search and Rescue portion of things, and have been thinking about getting SCUBA trained as well. Anyone have any experience in these types of things? Anything I should really look into, or for that matter, avoid?

Where does one go to learn about these things? I ahve asked around down at the station, and they arent real knowledgeable about it, other than what they themselves do on the local level. Is there a national on-call volunteer database somewhere to join up with?

Sorry for all the newbie questions, its just something that really fascinates me, and is kinda hard to get info on.

Many many years ago when I dove I knew some guys who volunteered with the FD to do search and rescue (really just search and recovery). They said finding a couple bodies that have been underwater for a few days really takes the fun out of diving

Originally posted by Joe_W
Many many years ago when I dove I knew some guys who volunteered with the FD to do search and rescue (really just search and recovery). They said finding a couple bodies that have been underwater for a few days really takes the fun out of diving

Having seen one pulled out after only being in for 12 hours or so.... I can only imagine.

Ive seen several bodies pulled from the lake at several different stages of decomp, not to mention catfish buffet exposure. Pretty nasty stuff.....

The sheriff in Comannche county has a great scuba program...


I was part of it back when we found the revolver that the two fags used in the Geronimo bank robbery/murders...


I found a girl that drowned in Lake Altus and that ruined it for me...hot babe underwater for 4 days...fish ate fingers/toes...she turned black as soon as we got her into the boat...smelled worse than fish...she fell off her skis and went 5ft under water, her vest got snagged on a tree limb, that is where we found her.

Marlow is close enough, to Lawton...check the dive masters there that teach at the YMCA...

Cool, exactly what I was looking for.

I can only imagine how nasty that body was in Lake Altus, sonsidering how nasty the lake is in the first place.

I was cruising the interweb, and sent off for a packet form the CAP, they have a post at Ft Sill, see what they have to offer.

from what i know you need to get your basic scuba then perform so many dives and then you can get certs. in rescue diving, black water and deep water, cave diving. find a local dive center and ask them what you need. also you can log on tohttp://www.rescue3.com i got my swift water rescue from them and they are a top notch rescue training company

For land based SAR training, the courses offered through http://www.nasar.org/ are considered standard.

Also....good idea about getting your medic. That will make all the difference if you are entertaining a career in fire/ems/sar at all.

Originally posted by Joe_W
Many many years ago when I dove I knew some guys who volunteered with the FD to do search and rescue (really just search and recovery). They said finding a couple bodies that have been underwater for a few days really takes the fun out of diving


Eckk.

I used to process pictures for the local Medical examiner.

After the first three rolls, I quit looking at the quality and just printed them.

(One body that had been in a river for 5-6 weeks, two crispy bodies that were in a house fire, and two little boys with their heads blown off sitting on a couch).

BTT for the afternoon crowd

Originally posted by IndyCJ



Eckk.

I used to process pictures for the local Medical examiner.

After the first three rolls, I quit looking at the quality and just printed them.

(One body that had been in a river for 5-6 weeks, two crispy bodies that were in a house fire, and two little boys with their heads blown off sitting on a couch).
i get the joy of taking those pictures :D

I am Military trained for rope work but before i was civilian trained for high angle rescue. they had us trained threw an outside company. The local fire departments should have some contacts for you