New Lifesaving Disc Tossed into River Raisin
Rather than wait for a real disaster, the Monroe County Sheriff's Department and Dundee Township Volunteer Fire Department staged a mock one, to try out a new lifesaving device on Saturday, July 24.
The participants assembled along the banks of the River Raisin, near the boat launch at Wolverine Park in Dundee.
The Marine Division of the Monroe County Sheriff's Department brought along a Sea-Doo Explorer inflated boat, and positioned themselves a short distance downstream, ready in case the mock disaster became a real one.
Chuck Haddix of River Raisin Canoe Livery donated the use of a canoe, which he piloted. Tim Justice, wearing a life jacket, slipped into an inner tube floating on the river. The inner tube was attached by a rope to the canoe. The river was about six feet deep, down about a foot from its average depth.
Tim Justice was pulled from the river to safety with a new Res-Q-Disc.
Back on the grassy banks was an array of officials watching the action, including Monroe County Sheriff Tilman Crutchfield, Village President Darrell Powell, Village Trustee Ed Craft, Township Trustee John R. Williams, a member of the Michigan State Police, and two mounted volunteer Sheriff's Posse members, along with a number of curious spectators.
At 10:27 a.m., the Dundee fire siren blew, alerting volunteer firemen of the situation.
By 10:28, a fire truck, rescue truck and AMR ambulance were crossing the bridge.
At 10:31, Dwayne Stull unwound about 20 feet of rope from around the edge of what appeared to be a bright orange Frisbee, and tossed it out to the man in the inner tube. The disc continued to unwind rope as it flew through the air, and landed within a foot of the "victim." The disc floated on the river, clearly visible. Mr. Justice grabbed the disc. Mr. Stull pulled on the rope, towing in the "victim."
By 10:34, the victim was on a backboard, and an ambulance cart, with paramedics and firemen checking his medical condition.
In the meantime, a "Medflight" helicopter from St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor, circled overhead. The pilot evidently rejected the outlined landing area in the tree-lined park, and chose to land in a big open grassy backyard next door, instead.
The mock disaster practice continued, with a paramedic and flight nurse emerging from the helicopter, and running to the accident scene. They also quizzed the victim.
By now, the victim had changed from Tim Justice, to Mr. Haddix, who was a good sport about it, and allowed himself to be strapped to a board and transported to the helicopter site.
This mock disaster, rescue practice event was planned by Deputy Dave Uhl and Dundee Fire Chief Dan Motylinski, who also is a sheriff's deputy.
"I support these types of training activities," said Sheriff Crutchfield. "I think it's a great idea. I'm here to see exactly what the capabilities of the Res-Q-Disc are."
The disc itself is very lightweight, weighing about the same as a regular championship-style Frisbee. It is bright orange, to increase visibility, and has rope wrapped all around the edge, which is released as the disc sails through the air. It is slightly convex on both sides, and floats.
Keith Furrow and Dan Curley rewind the rope around the bright orange Res-Q-Disc. The lightweight device weighs about the same as a regular championship-style Frisbee. The rope unfurls as the disc is tossed to a drowning victim. Chuck Haddix of the River Raisin Canoe Livery donated his canoe and time for the event.
Sheriff Crutchfield has ordered Res-Q-Discs for all the department's patrol cars.
"If a patrol car is the first to arrive, they may save someone's life," said Sheriff Crutchfield. "If you go into the water to try to help some who is struggling for their life, they'll pull you down, they're just frantic. Even the best swimmers have a horrible time trying to rescue people. But if you throw this out there, they're going to grab it, because they're going to grab anything out there."
The sheriff added, "The price was very affordable, at about $18.60 each. We bought them by the case. We certainly wanted to put one in each of our patrol cars. It's such a simple idea, but it's so practical."
The Village of Dundee also purchased two of the Res-Q-Discs for the Dundee Township Volunteer Fire Department. The discs are not yet available for individual retail sale.
A "Medflight" helicopter from St. Joseph Mercy Hospital, Ann Arbor, took part in a special rescue training exercise in Dundee on Sunday, July 24. Participants rescued a mock drowning victim from the River Raisin behind Wolverine Park. Pictured left to right are: Sgt. David Kotke, Dep. Dave Uhl, Monroe County Sheriff Tilman Crutchfield, Dundee Fire Chief Dan Motylinski, Flight Nurse Therese Canning, Flight Paramedic Kim Davanzo and Pilot John Goold.
Fire Chief Dan Motylinski said, "They are easy to store and maintain. It doesn't get all tangled up like a rope does, and it's easy to use."
Deputy Dave Uhl thought the exercise went smoothly.
"It was great," said Dep. Uhl. "We learned where to land a helicopter. The practice with the Res-Q-Disc went well, and it was a good thing to be able to involve all the different departments. It was a good team effort."
Village President Darrell Powell was impressed with the morning's events.
"They were very efficient," said Mr. Powell. "They take their jobs very seriously. I don't think there was much time between the time the fire department was called and he got into the ambulance. It was a great response time. I was also very impressed with the new Res-Q-Disc."
