Click here to subscribe today or Login.
Sunday, January 30, 2000 Page: 5B
The recent death of Todd Wash burn, commercial diver, near Pittsburgh
prompts me to write. First and foremost, we offer our deepest condolences to
Mr. Washburn’s family, friends and fellow divers.
As a member of the Luzerne County Sheriff’s Department Dive Search and
Rescue Team and as the sergeant in charge of training, I want to educate the
public about our mission and our approach to safety. I wish I could say that
diving, especially rescue/recovery diving, was an activity that is without
danger, but every time we are called to an incident involving immersion of an
individual in a local waterway, the possibility exists that an injury to one
of our divers could occur. We recognize this and take measures to minimize the
risk while still providing a rapid response to each and every incident.
Our command staff, myself included, are highly trained divers with over
100 years of combined experience. Most of us are certified scuba instructors,
and continue to teach scuba diving to the general community.
Prospective applicants must be certified by an internationally recognized
organization and own their own set of scuba equipment. For most people, this
is a minimum investment of $1,500-$2,000. A majority of our members own in
excess of $10,000 worth of scuba and rescue gear that is at the disposal of
the entire team.
We provide numerous training dives each year for our members to ensure that
they remain current in their ability to not only scuba dive, but also to
perform the special tasks inherent with underwater rescue and recovery
operations. Our command staff exercises strict authority over who is permitted
in the water, and these decisions are based on several criteria.
Taken together, these measures help to reduce the risk associated with our
activities. But they do not eliminate the risk.
We want the citizens of Luzerne County to know that a team of highly
trained and motivated divers exists to protect them as they venture out on our
local waterways.
We hope we never have to be called, but be assured that we are available
and here to help.
In closing, let me leave you with a safety tip for the season: If you plan
to venture out on a frozen lake, please make sure the ice is at least 3-4
inches thick and wear a personal flotation device.
1st Sgt. David J. Pekala Training Officer
Luzerne County Sheriff’s Department
Dive Search and Rescue Team
Wilkes-Barre