The North Wildwood Fire Department recently upgraded the capabilities for providing water and beach related emergencies with the addition of two specially designed vehicles. A four wheel drive utility vehicle with an enclosed body was designed by department members with Firefighter Joshua Carter leading the project. The vehicle is used for water and beach related emergencies and will be extremely valuable during the seasons in which the Beach Patrol is not in operation. Complications from water related emergencies include hypothermia which can affect both victims and rescuers. The vehicle is equipped with climate-control features in the enclosed body which is equipped for patient transport from the beach to street to awaiting ambulances.
The fire department is responsible for water rescue emergency response during the off seasons and also provides assistance to the beach patrol during guarded month’s for ocean emergencies occurring after hours or emergencies occurring at areas prohibited for swimming. All career firefighters as well as most seasonal and part-time employees and some volunteer members are trained for open water rescue procedures. This type of response is significantly different than that typically used by certified life guards especially with the use of personal protective equipment and mandatory floatation vests. Life guards on duty have a significantly greater number of staff immediately available to respond which provides a greater degree of safety for the rescuers. Swimmers in distress frequently become combative. The vehicle is equipped with a variety of ocean water rescue and medical equipment.
The truck serves a secondary function in that it carries a cache of high and low angle rope rescue equipment. This is used for technical rescue situations in which access to the victim, to a safe location, or both requires rope and rigging techniques. Department staff is also trained for that type of situation. Training and drills are conducted frequently while on duty and through quarterly training sessions in which North Wildwood and Wildwood Firefighters train together. Protocol calls for both departments to respond to water and technical rescues in most cases.
In addition to the utility truck the department also took delivery of an ATV type vehicle designed and equipped for emergency medical response both off-road and in crowded conditions such as street festivals.
