Out on Lake Vermilion at Gao Grotto this week, Danville Firefighters have been receiving water rescue training from Milwaukee firefighter Cameron Borchert and his wife Brenda. About a decade ago, they started a company called Great Lakes Technical Rescue. Cameron Borchort says going back to his days growing up in California, he learned over the years that water is a different animal all of its own. And firefighters and first responders need to be able to know what to do.
AUDIO: If somebody calls, because when they call 911 we don’t really know what kind of a problem, what kind of an issue they’re having. So we have to prepare our first responders to be able to deal with anything. Now, out here today we’re in the lake. This could be in the river. It could be in a flood environment. It could be a lot of things. But this is how the rescuers can be safe, and efficiently make an attempted rescue.
(1st and 3rd Pictures) Branda Borchort works with Danville firefighters on throw bag and rope techniques for water rescues.
For Brenda Borchert, one of the most important things is that first responders come out of the training knowing what they do best, and what they don’t do best in water rescues.
AUDIO: We teach them what their personal capabilities are. We give them techniques in order to help someone, but we also give them the autonomy to say “this isn’t for me,” or “I have a different skillset.” And it’s okay for them to say, “I am not the rescue swimmer, but I am the throw bagger. Or maybe I’m an assistance rigger for the ropes.”
Danville firefighter water rescue training with Cameron and Brenda Borchert will continue at Gao Grotto on Friday.
Danville Firefighters practice throw bag tossing before heading out on Lake Vermilion.
