State Patrol cadets learn about water rescues

Washington State Patrol Academy cadets practiced submersed vehicle rescue as part of a water safety training July 16.

The training has changed over time, Cpl. Louis Worley told the Journal.

"We used to make it more difficult," Worley, who is with the training division, said.

Cadets were expected to perform the passenger extraction in very cold water, typically around 55 degrees, simulating conditions of Pacific Northwest rivers, lakes and the Puget Sound.

That changed around 15 years ago, Worley said, and today cadets practice in 80-degree water, which is safer for training.

They wear uniforms, minus shoes, duty belts and ballistic vests while attempting the rescue.

For the July 16 training, two Department of Natural Resources employees in dive gear lowered a Corvette body onto the pool floor.

One employee stayed submerged in the driver's seat and another was in the water if cadets needed help.

Then instructors turned off the lights.

Cadets waiting outside entered into darkness and dove in the pool, unsure of the car's location.

The exercise is timed, and after a few minutes an instructor tells the cadet to cease the rescue attempt.

"A person can only survive underwater for so long," Worley said.

Few cadets complete rescue of the driver, according to Worley.

The exercise shows how difficult it is for a trooper to jump into an unknown body of water, find a sunken vehicle, remove an occupant and pull them to the surface.

Some cadets can be exceptional swimmers but have difficulty with cold conditions, gauging distances or times, Worley said.

Cadet Taylor Johnson performed the exercise twice, once in darkness and once with the lights on so the Journal could photograph the attempt.

Taylor made several dives in the dark trying to locate the car. He was able to touch the car with his feet but needed to keep swimming back up for air.

With the lights on, Taylor was able to pull the DNR employee acting as driver out of the car and hoist him up onto the poolside.

Afterwards, Taylor said that while he is an excellent swimmer, attempting the rescue in the dark disoriented him. He said it was very stressful knowing he only had a short amount of time before it would be too late to save the victim.

Cadets learn to know their limits, Worley said.

Knowing when to stop the attempted rescue can mean the difference between a recovery mission for the car's occupants and a recovery mission for the occupants and the trooper.

The cadets at the water safety training were in their 25th week of academy training and will graduate Oct. 30.