There was a rather unusual group of swimmers hitting the pool at Cross Gates Athletic Club in Slidell this week.

Along with the sunbathers and toddlers splashing in the fountains, several members of St. Tammany Fire District 1 were donning scuba gear and jumping into the water. The group was in its first day of training with the Zeagle Rapid Diver system, a compact set of scuba equipment for aiding in underwater rescues.

According to FD1 Capt. Pat McCloskey, the department has considered the idea of acquiring rescue diving gear for quite some time. Recent drowning deaths spurred the agency into action.

“We are surrounded by water in this area, so we’ve wanted to do this for several years, but we didn’t quite know how to go about it,” said McCloskey. “Then in the last year, there was one drowning near Eden Isles, and two in Eagle Lake, so we knew it was time to move on it.”

McCloskey contacted Rick Sutton, owner of Coral Reef Dive Shop. Sutton helped direct them to the Rapid Diver program, and then volunteered his time to lead the training.

A Master Scuba Dive Trainer since 1995, Sutton has logged over 2,000 dives. He has trained a number of members of the St. Tammany Parish Sheriff’s Office, and said the firefighters, some of whom were already certified divers, were “very comfortable” in the water.

“Their reaction was fantastic,” said Sutton. “A lot more people showed up for the training than we had planned, because they are really excited to do anything that’s going to help them save more lives.”

Sutton said that while the firefighters are already familiar with using compressed air in a self-contained breathing apparatus, which help provide breathable air when fighting fires. Using them underwater is a little more involved, however, and Sutton said they rose to the challenge.

The system includes a lightweight diving harness that can be slipped on in less than a minute, plus a small air canister suitable for a dive of about 15 to 20 minutes in water of moderate depth. It was initially developed for the military, who needed a versatile, easily deployed system for certain missions on the water.

Public safety agencies and first responders around the South, where waterways are more plentiful, began utilizing the system. It is reported to be especially useful in areas of low visibility or difficult shore entry.

Officials at FD1 estimate the equipment can save up to 30 minutes when beginning water rescues. About a dozen members of the department will take part in the initial training, and will be based at three specific engine companies: Eden Isles, Central in Olde Towne, and Brownswitch Road. After a two-week period of training at Cross Gates, the department will begin working with a stripped-down vehicle submerged in one of the local waterways.

According to Chief of Administration Chris Kaufmann, the idea is to supplement the sheriff’s office Marine Division Search and Rescue Team.

“We’re looking at it as a partnership, a way of adding to our commitment to saving lives and property,” said Kaufmann. “If someone is trapped underwater, this will allow us to get down there and do as much as possible until the sheriff’s office gets there.”

Sheriff Jack Strain said he wholly supports the endeavor.

“People don’t realize that drowning doesn’t just happen out on the lake; it can happen in a small pond in a subdivision,” said Strain. “Anytime our fire and police can get additional training to work together, it makes us stronger agencies and gives us a stronger community.”

MACC Focuses on Maritime Future

Navy NewsStand

Story Number: NNS070613-17
Release Date: 6/13/2007 3:35:00 PM

By Mass Communication Specialist Seaman (SW) Shanika L. Futrell, Fleet Public Affairs Center, Atlantic

VIRGINIA BEACH, Va. (NNS) -- Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Va., hosted the 10th annual Multi-Agency Craft Conference (MACC) on June 5-7.

The conference provided an opportunity for open exchange and discussion during more than 15 technical presentations by a variety of subject matter experts in the maritime arena dealing with military boats and combatant craft.

“This industry is the only one that brings the government agencies and the maritime community together in one place,” said Judy Tukey, MACC coordinator, Naval Surface Warfare Center, Carderock combatant craft division. “Past, current and future world environments have placed increased emphasis on the role of sea-going vessels to prosecute new challenges in homeland security, force protection, littoral warfare and special warfare operations missions.”

According to Tukey, operational demands of current military missions require more advanced and stealthier craft, and the MACC is designed to be the annual forum to get the latest innovations to those who need it.

“This conference is extremely important because we need to prepare technology for the men and women out there on deployment who are working together to support global maritime security,” said Rear Adm. Donald K. Bullard, Commander Navy Expeditionary Combat Command, one of the conference’s keynote speakers.

“At the core of an organization is a statement of organizational strategy, mission, purpose and values,” said Brian Persons, from Naval Sea Systems Command, who spoke about research and systems engineering during the conference. “Innovation is the capability of continuously achieving a desired future state.”

Nearly 170 exhibitors from various government and commercial organizations showed off their different boats and crafts with more than 35 in-water crafts on display.

“Anyone who wanted to take a test ride in the boats and crafts while viewing the in-water exhibits were welcomed to do so at the vendors discretion,” said Tukey.

Participants got the chance to experience marine technical innovations via hands-on, in-water demonstrations, browse the exhibits and speak with vendors about their latest products. They also had the chance to network with other maritime professionals in an informal social atmosphere.