by Bill Turner
Roanoke Fire-EMS personnel had passersby turning their heads Tuesday morning as a series of swift water rescue drills were conducted from the Jefferson Street Bridge over the Roanoke River near Carilion Hospital. Fire trucks and rescue vehicles lined the bridge as sophisticated rescue maneuvers were undertaken using ‘mannequin victims’ in the river below. Squads from Roanoke County and Salem also participated.
“The swift water rescue is a high-risk, low-occurance event,” Roanoke Fire-EMS spokesperson Tiffany Bradbury noted Tuesday. “But, when it happens, it’s a serious matter. The drills foster regional cooperation among these specialized members.”
