Dramatic Swift Water Rescue Demonstration Coming To The Rye Marina

RYE, NY — The dramatic sea rescue scheduled to take place Saturday morning won't be any less exciting just because the exercise is being staged.

The Rye Fire Department and the Rye Police Department will hold a swift water rescue demonstration on Saturday at 8:30 a.m. to showcase the departments' proficiency in water rescue operations.

The event is expected to last for one hour. The staged rescues will take place on the main dock, water, and the boat ramp.

As a precaution, power will be cut to the immediate area in the marina during the demonstration. Rye Marina boaters will not have access to the area during the drill. There will be limited public viewing of the demonstration and only from locations considered safe by the Rye Police Department.

The event marks a culmination of a long-term goal of the Sound Shore city.

The police and fire departments have embarked on a multi-year initiative aimed at honing capabilities in water rescues. Extensive training sessions conducted at the State Preparedness Training Center have equipped the departments with the expertise necessary to navigate even the most challenging rescues effectively.

Officials expect the New York State Office of Fire Prevention and Control awarding Level 3 Accreditation this year.

The demonstration will feature three distinct phases, according to officials:

• Phase One: Two skilled rescuers will demonstrate techniques for retrieving a victim from the water by employing methods such as engagement, reaching, or utilizing a line from the dock.
• Phase Two: Rescuers will showcase their proficiency in line throwing across water bodies, securing the line, and deploying an inflatable raft to safely transport the victim to shore.
• Phase Three: Following the successful rescue operation, the focus will shift to the safe extraction of the rescuers from the site, ensuring that all personnel are removed from the area without incident. The true measure of a rescuer's skill lies not in their ability to enter the water, but in their capacity to assess, strategize, and deploy interventions wisely, making water entry the last resort.