IHBA Rescue

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The National Rescue Director, appointed by the International Hot Boat Association President, carries a multitude of responsibilities. All Team rescue personnel are selected by the Director based upon their qualifications, experience, training and abilities. Team Rescue is currently comprised of approximately 20 members nationwide. The Director will select a crew for each race event depending upon geographics and the specific needs of each particular site. Travel and lodging arrangements are coordinated by the Director, as well as individual assignments at the race track. The National Director is also charged with coordinating training, rescue boat maintenance and supply acquisition. He also prepares and maintains detailed reports on each incident and accident, and shares this information with IHBA staff and the individual race teams in an effort to improve safety. Both the National Director and National Coordinator are on-site at each national event, supervising, directing and coordinating Team Rescue. The National Director briefs and instructs the ambulance and helicopter medivac personnel at each individual race site, and personally directs each rescue or recovery operation.

The National Rescue Coordinator is the assistant to the Director, and is appointed by the Director. He is responsible for assisting in all of the Director's functions, as well as acting as the liaison between the Rescue Team members and the Director. The National Coordinator makes recommendations to the Director and to IHBA regarding equipment, supplies, training, safety, and team performance.

The National Medical Director is a critical position on the team, appointed by the National Rescue Director. The person filling this position must be a licensed physician with extensive emergency medical experience. The National Medical Director reviews the qualifications of all medics on the team and makes race assignments based upon their level of expertise. He also coordinates and conducts emergency medical training drills for all team members, and ensures the rescue boats are adequately supplied with emergency medical equipment and supplies.

Each rescue boat is staffed by two rescue divers. Both of these divers are certified scuba divers with extensive experience and expertise in a variety of conditions. The majority of our divers are "master" divers and instructors.

Likewise, the rescue divers must be excellent swimmers; must be in top physical condition and must have the ability to react and perform flawlessly in an emergency.

In an accident, the primary function of the diver is to quickly and safely retrieve the drag boat driver from the water and place him on the deck of the rescue boat. This is usually accomplished in a matter of seconds.

The diver then assists in the salvage of the crashed boat.

Each rescue boat is staffed with a Medic. This person is a highly-trained and experienced emergency responder; such as a Paramedic. The primary function of the Medic is to provide emergency medical care and treatment to an injured driver from the time he/she is brought aboard the rescue boat until he/she is delivered to the waiting ambulance or medivac helicopter.

In addition to these duties, each rescue boat is equipped to fight a variety of drag boat fires, to include nitro-methane fuel, alcohol, gasoline and oil fires. The medic is cross-trained in firefighting techniques, and acts as the primary firefighter on their assigned boat.

The Medic also acts as a "second pair of eyes" for the Boat Captain, assisting in ensuring course safety and locating potential problems.

The Medic assists in configuring their rescue boat before each event, assists the divers with their equipment, and coordinates with the Boat Captain and Divers during accidents and incidents.

At each racing event, two rescue boats are on course at all times. Each boat is operated by a designated Boat Captain. These positions, assigned by the National Director, must have a vast amount of experience in all aspects of drag boat racing, rescue scuba diving, emergency medical procedures, and powerboat operation. The Boat Captain is always the most experienced person on each rescue boat.

The Boat Captains are in constant communication with race officials, and are responsible for viewing the track for safety clearance prior to each pair of boats running the course.

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