Water Rescue

Here we all are again, it’s the 17^th February 2018, it’s cold out, but luckily today we have a day in the classroom.

We were all back at Exeter HQ, the last time we were there was for our written test at the very beginning of our application to become an On Call Firefighter.

It was lovely seeing the guys again and the day went well. We, yet again had brilliant instructors, lots of input to take in and a knowledge check at the end of the day.

Before we left that day we got kitted out with a wooly bear suit (yes, they are as cosy as they sound!) drysuit, boots, personal flotation device (PFD) and helmet. We certainly looked the part, tomorrow would be the big test, outside in the River Dart.

Before I tell you about our training, I need to give you a little background into my life…..don’t worry, I won’t get too emotional on you, but the fact is, for years I have had a fear of water. It all stemmed way back to when I was seven years old and being pushed into the pool at a Brownie swimming lesson. Since then I have tried many swimming teachers and techniques, but my fear was ever-present even when I finally learnt to swim.

In 2017 I found the most amazing wild swimming teacher, Kari Furre, she won’t mind me mentioning her, as I have a separate blog documenting my swimming journey with her. I had already had some lessons with her, and also been using a hypnotherapy app to deal with fears and phobias. Being honest, if those two things hadn’t happened, I would not have been able to take part in day two of this course.

I let both instructors know about my ‘water issues’ and the guys all knew about it and were all supportive and amazing about it. Out of all the courses, this would be my nemesis.

I travelled again with Bill to the River Dart Country Park, it was a beautiful, if not a little cold day.

We met up, had a cuppa, gathered our PPE together, I must have gone to the toilet around six times because of nerves, the guys knew how I was feeling and kept my humour up.

It was time to get kitted up and head down to the river, my nerves at this point were actually making me shake, the rest of the team loved it, and the time came for me to get into the river and self-rescue. I did it, all that I had been taught; I performed, and made it to the eddy on the other side of the river. Obstacle one conquered!

More and more of this, and I gained confidence, I may have even enjoyed it a little when I knew how much control I actually had, and before I knew it, it was lunch time.

The rest of the day we did more self-rescue, used throw-bags, learnt about wading by the weir, which was tough. But it wasn’t as bad as I thought, and I passed!

The time now was to say goodbye to the team, the guys who had become close and trusted friends in such a short time, and this blog is for you guys, Rob (Captain Flash-heart), William (Will, Welfare Willy!), Bill (Billiam), Dan (Danielle), Ryan (Rylan), Joey, James, Jamie, Doug (Evacuate!!) not forgetting Johnny and Mark. I couldn’t have done this journey so well without you all as support, not to mention how much you all make me laugh, so thank you.