Beach Patrol & The AMR River Safety Program
The Sandy River where it flows through Troutdale, Oregon ranges during the year from Class III to Class I whitewater, and attracts many visitors. In the past, high drowning rates led to the need for a public safety program to educate residents and visitors about water safety and prevent further drownings. The AMR River Rescue Program is a public service project of American Medical Response and the Troutdale Booster Club, jointly funded as a free benefit to the citizens and visitors to the region. Thanks to the presence of the lifeguards, an average of 25 people in the primary area and 10 to 15 out of area are rescued or assisted each year.
During summer 1999, American Medical Response (AMR), in cooperation with the Troutdale Booster Club, created a unique river safety program on the Sandy River at Glenn Otto Community Park in Troutdale, Oregon.
American Medical Response has a long history of rescue response. Since 1988, AMR has maintained the Reach-and-Treat (RAT) Team in the Northern Oregon area. The RAT Team is a group of paramedics who are trained in mountain, backcountry, canyon, river, and adverse terrain rescue. The program employs two AMR Paramedic Rescue Units in the Mount Hood area throughout the year. The River Rescue program in an off-shoot of this program.
American
Medical Response developed and implemented a comprehensive river
safety program on the Sandy River at Glenn Otto Community Park
during Summer 1999. AMR maintains River Rescue Specialists at the
park during peak summer months. The personnel are Emergency Medical
Technicians (EMTs) and paramedics who are trained in lifeguard
skills, river rescue skills, and medical considerations for water
rescue. They are equipped with a full compliment of water rescue
and medical equipment, including: radios, rescue personal flotation
devices (PFDs), wet suits, swift-water fins, kayak, rescue tube
and can, defibrillator, and medical kits. In addition, they are
linked into the Multnomah County EMS and Law Enforcement systems
via an 800 radio system.
The personnel assigned to the River Safety Program are able to:
- Assist a number of swimmers who appear to be in distress in the water
- Perform hazard mitigation, and
- Interact with the public for prevention activities
From
May 20 through September 10 each year, USLA-certified Open Water
Lifeguard/River Rescue Technicians protect a primary area of a
quarter-mile of water in a park with a half-mile of river and beach
area. Lifeguards work 10-hour shifts during the high season, and
are kept on call for water standby requests and flood response
during the off-season. In addition to active prevention and rescue
on the Sandy River, program staff spend a great deal of time focusing
on public safety education. Regular water safety stories are highlighted
on the local news and in papers, displays are provided for Safe
Kid Coalition Day, and safety talks are given to all children's
groups visiting the beach. Specifically, summer camps from both
the city and County programs provide a forum for lifeguards to
educate local children about water safety on the Sandy River. A
free PFD program for children and teens in the area further enhances
water safety, and annual safety talks for all Parks and Recreation
employees increase community involvement in keeping the Sandy River
a safe and fun place for Troutdale citizens and visitors.
This program needs your help. Since the River Safety Program is a community service, it accepts no tax funding and charges no fees. If you are interested in supporting this lifesaving program, please contact the Troutdale Booster Club, P.O. Box 245, Troutdale, Oregon 97060, 503-872-8401.
City of Troutdale- Last Updated January 11, 2011