Dispatched to a report of multiple people trapped on the second floor of an apartment building with rising water, Tiger Schmittendorf and two of other members of his department launched their rescue boat and located the victims on in the apartment building. While preparing them for removal the conditions outside changed significantly and the slow moving water became swift moving water.

Listen in as he chronicles how the firefighters were able to remove the victims but then almost became victims themselves. Lessons learned included:

1. Don’t allow yourself it get into a situational you are not adequately trained and prepared to handle.

1. Don't wear bunker pants while performing a water rescue.

1. Don't let emotions drive your decision making.

1. Only used trained responders for water rescue evolutions.

Our sponsor:

Midwest Fire MidwestFire.com

Guest Information

Tiger Schmittendorf

Deputy Fire Coordinator

Erie County Emergency Services

716-777-0205

[email protected]

TrainYourReplacement.com

Intro music

Safety Dance (1982)

Men Without Hats

GMC - Virgin Records

Situational Awareness Matters! website

www.SAMatters.com

Firefighter Near Miss Reporting System

http://www.firefighternearmiss.com/

Contact Rich Gasaway

www.RichGasaway.com

[email protected]

612-548-4424