San Diego, California – A multi-agency training exercise conducted by San Diego Lifeguards focused on simulating a boat explosion in the harbor. The scenario aimed to test the coordinated response of rescue teams from 18 different state, federal, and local agencies in handling various worst-case maritime incidents. This collaborative effort highlighted the importance of coordination in managing large-scale emergencies at sea, as emphasized by San Diego Fire-Rescue’s Lifeguard Division Chief James Gartland.
Gartland stressed the challenges that arise during maritime incidents and the crucial role of coordination among agencies to effectively respond to such emergencies. The exercise involved rescuers facing chaotic scenarios, from femur fractures to surf sleds, while conducting patient triage with limited resources. In a simulation where lifeguards portrayed victims with various injuries, fire crews and medics took over at the triage site onshore.
One of the critical aspects focused on during the training was the transportation of patients from vessel to vessel. Gartland highlighted the importance of this process in expediting hospital transportation and potentially enhancing survival chances. The exercise provided participants with a firsthand experience of the complexities involved in water rescues, highlighting the challenges faced by both rescuers and victims alike.
Through this training exercise, rescue teams gained a deeper understanding of the importance of communication, vessel tactics, and rescue maneuvers in emergency situations. The simulated boat explosion scenario served as a valuable learning experience, demonstrating the intricacies of responding to maritime incidents and the need for coordinated efforts among multiple agencies to ensure effective response and patient care.