Special Rockland County Rescue Unit Ready to Save Lives in Tight Spaces

Rockland County's police, volunteer firefighters and emergency medical personnel are ready to come to the rescue at any time day or night when the call comes. But when the circumstances are unusual, there is a special group of volunteers called in to use their unique rescue skills.

Members of the Rockland County Technical Rescue Team include volunteers from local police departments, volunteer fire departments and emergency medical services units. Their mission is to reach victims who are trapped in tight spaces or precarious spots.

In February, members of the rescue team - funded through the Rockland County Office of Fire and Emergency Services at the Fire Training Center in Pomna - practiced their skills in a drill that simulated a worker trapped in a confined space, such as a sewer or tunnel.

Members of the team went through rescue and safety procedures step-by-step, including methods of preparing victims to be moved, lifting and moving a simulated victim and practicing the necessary communication and anchoring needed to lift a victim out of harm's way.

With two months of study and practice on confined space rescues, the team is getting set for a full-scale drill to evaluate the skills of its members.

Rockland County has a variety of specialized rescue units, including a hazardous materials team and locally-based units such as mountain rescue teams and river rescue teams.