VOLUSIA COUNTY, Fla. – A large training exercise unfolded in the Intracoastal on Wednesday morning as first responders rehearsed a pediatric drowning rescue ahead of spring break.
From the water to the ambulance to the chopper, multiple agencies ran a full sequence of lifesaving actions.
Firefighters from Ponce Inlet, Volusia Beach Safety and Orlando Health medical teams were on scene, working together to practice rescuing a 5-year-old drowning victim.
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“Seconds do matter, so as soon as we get that 911 call, we start rolling multiple units,” said Captain AJ Miller with Volusia Beach Safety.
The exercise moved fast, with lifeguards retrieving a simulated victim in the water, then transferring care to paramedics on shore.
“We’re right on the precipice of Spring Break. We have a lot of people coming to town, so we need to be ready because when more people come, you have more emergencies, so we need to be prepared for any situation that we’re going to come across,” said Miller.
Officials said the drill focused on preventing the worst outcomes and practicing every step from rescue to critical care.
“We see it far too often. The issues are that the outcomes are life-changing for these families. They either leave without their child or their child is left severely impaired needing total care, so if we can prevent this, it’s key,” said Mary Farrell, a Pediatric Intensivist from Arnold Palmer Hospital.
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Responders practiced CPR, airway management and rapid transport protocols so no time or step is lost in a real emergency.
“This should absolutely have no gaps and no times where it’s ‘I wish we had done this, I wish it had been different,’ we have to be right on this every single time,” SAID Farrell.
Volusia Sheriff’s Office and beach safety officials said the county will be all hands on deck as spring break begins next week, stepping up patrols and readiness at beaches and waterways.