08/23/2026
This past week, several members of our department had the opportunity to participate in NPQ Swift Water Technician training. It was a week-long, hands-on course focused on the skills and knowledge needed to safely operate in and around moving water during swift-water and flood emergencies.
Throughout the training, our firefighters worked on:
🔹 Reading the water and recognizing current patterns, hydraulics, hazards, and rapidly changing conditions
🔹 Understanding the power and force of moving water
🔹 Identifying safe zones, escape routes, and downstream hazards
🔹 Proper use of PPE and rescue equipment
🔹 Boat handling, positioning, and maneuvering in moving water
🔹 Throw-bag and rope-rescue techniques
🔹 Swimming and self-rescue techniques in moving water
🔹 River crossings and navigating difficult water environments
🔹 Victim contact, extrication, and rescue techniques
🔹 Team communication, incident management, and maintaining situational awareness
🔹 And so much more!
Swift-water rescue is a challenging environment where training, teamwork, and sound decision-making are critical. The skills developed during this course help prepare our members to respond when someone’s worst day involves water-related emergencies.
A huge THANK YOU to Splash in the Boro for providing an excellent training environment and supporting the continued education of our firefighters!
We also want to recognize and thank our fellow fire service partners who participated and trained alongside us this week:
🚒 City of Perry Fire & Emergency Services
🚒 Macon-Bibb County Fire Department
🚒 Pooler Fire-Rescue
🚒 Chatham County Fire Department
🚒 Garden City Fire Rescue
Training together with neighboring departments strengthens the relationships, communication, and teamwork that become especially important when a large-scale water or flood emergency requires multiple agencies working together.
We’re proud of our members for taking the time to sharpen these specialized skills and continue preparing to serve our community. 🌊🚒
