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Contributed photo/Pentwater Fire Chief Jonathan Hughart aboard the Oceana County Sheriff’s Office marine boat.
The partnership aims to to speed up response times for water emergencies
By Allison Scarbrough, News Editor
PENTWATER — The Oceana County Marine Division and Pentwater Fire and Rescue launched a joint program earlier this summer aimed at enhancing water safety.
“We set up a program where Pentwater rescue would take a more first-hand approach in potential water rescues or incidents,” said Sgt. Mike Fillips, head of Oceana County Sheriff’s Office Marine Division.
“With Pentwater being the only port to Lake Michigan in Oceana County, any medical calls on Lake Michigan will most likely come into the port at Pentwater. With all patients coming into Pentwater rescue’s district they eventually would get involved so we decided to get them involved earlier. With us knowing this, the medics and I did not see a reason to wait for the patient or potential patients to get into port before starting medical assistance. We then put together a mutual aid agreement where specially-trained medical responders from Pentwater would be able to come onto the county marine patrol boat. These Pentwater rescue personnel
OCP file photo/Sgt. Mike Fillips
came and trained with Oceana County marine staff in several different methods and techniques. We trained together, so the medical staff would be able to be a trained and valuable part of the marine division while responding to the call. Then upon arrival to the call, the scene could be turned over to them to treat any potential patient and begin care during the return trip to port.
“Since many of these calls involve inclement weather or severe conditions, having medical staff on board that were not trained in techniques specific to the Oceana County Marine Division would be a problem. The trained personnel are able to assist with victim recovery or boat securement for patient transfer as well as additional situations. With that, only currently trained personnel are allowed on board,” said Sgt. Fillips.
“By being able to give immediate care to someone on the water versus basic first aid that the marine patrol guys would be able to give” will be a big advantage to the partnership, said Pentwater Fire Chief Jonathan Hughart. “There will be a licensed medical responder on the boat with them, which will speed up patient care times. It also puts another person on the boat with the marine patrol guys. Not every time there is going to be a patient, but the more hands the better.”
“Mike kind of spearheaded it,” said Chief Hughart of Sgt, Fillips. “Mike and I had a few meetings about it and got it going.”
Contributed photo/OCSO marine boat in Lake Michigan.
“Continual training between the departments is also required with this agreement,” said Fillips. Pentwater rescue marine-trained personnel are able to respond with the marine division to a water emergency even if a medical situation was not reported on the initial call. This has already proven worthy as noted on a call out earlier this year. Upon arrival, a 75-year-old male was able to be evaluated after being in the water and physically exhausted by the time of our arrival.” “There was no mention of any medical situation on my initial dispatch,” said Fillips. “The medical staff was also able to assist the marine division in securing the vessel and transporting both the vessel and occupants to safety. In addition to responding to call outs, the medically-trained are able to ride on the patrol boat during high volume days. They were on board during the Fourth of July fireworks and patrol time. This was also the case during some patrol time on the Pentwater Homecoming week. This allowed us to have staff on board with proper equipment that exceeds that of a uniformed police officer. This would then cut down response time to render proper assistance in an emergency.”
Four rescue personnel, including himself, trained with Fillips to “get familiar with the boat and how it operates,” said Hughart. More may join in the future.
“It’s going to be a great benefit for the community,” said the fire chief. “We’re always looking for ways to improve response time; improve patient care; and service our community. And Pentwater is covered by water everywhere.”
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